Abstract
The present study analyzed the ultrasonic features of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and papillary thyroid non-microcarcinoma (non-PTMC) with the aim of improving the diagnostic value of ultrasonography. The ultrasonic features of 328 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), as confirmed by pathology, were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were diagnosed with PTMC if the tumor size was ≤10 mm in diameter or non-PTMC if the tumor size was >10 mm in diameter. The shape, ratio of length/width, boundary, echo, peripheral halo ring, calcification, cystic changes, blood flow, lymph node metastasis and additional accompanying thyroid diseases were compared between the patients with PTMC and non-PTMC. In total, 389 nodules were identified in the 328 patients, including 209 PTMC nodules and 180 non-PTMC nodules. The multifocality rate was 15.9% (52/328). Ultrasound scans detected a total of 371 nodules, while 18 PMTC nodules were missed diagnosed and 57 nodules were misdiagnosed as benign nodules. Statistically significant differences in the boundary, ratio of length/width, cystic changes, blood flow and lymph node metastasis were observed between the PTMC and non-PTMC groups (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed with regard to the shape, calcification, peripheral halo rings and additional accompanying thyroid diseases between the two groups (P>0.05). Therefore, ultrasound plays an important role in the diagnosis of PTC, with PTMC and non-PTMC exhibiting different ultrasonic performances.
Highlights
Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of primary malignant thyroid cancer, with the incidence rate increasing in the last decade [1]
58.61% (228/389) of the nodules were found in patients with other thyroid diseases, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT; 38.60%; 88/228), nodular goiter (52.19%; 119/228), adenoma (1.32%; 3/228) and nodular goiter accompanied with HT or adenoma (7.89%; 18/228); statistically significant differences were not observed when comparing the papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and non‐PTMC cases (P>0.05; Table I)
Thyroid microcarcinoma refers to nodules with a diameter of ≤10 mm, with or without regional or distant lymph node metastasis
Summary
Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of primary malignant thyroid cancer, with the incidence rate increasing in the last decade [1]. Due to the insidious onset and slow development of PTC [2], an early diagnosis is important to select the correct treatment strategy and improve prognosis [3]. In papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), the rates of incorrect and missed diagnoses are high due to the atypical clinical symptoms and more aggressive behavior with regional and distant metastases [4,5]. Whether PTMC and papillary thyroid non‐microcarcinoma (non‐PTMC) exhibit the same ultrasonic performances is controversial [2,7]. The aim of the present study was to retrospectively compare the sonographic features of PTMC and non‐PTMC, in order to improve the diagnostic value of ultrasonography
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