The value of calcification in CT diagnosis and differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodules

Objective To clarify the value of calcification in CT diagnosis and differentiating benign and malignant thyroid lesions. Methods One hundred forty patients with thyroid nodules were selected, including 72 patients with benign thyroid nodules and 68 patients with malignant thyroid nodules. All of them had pathologic diagnosis. Result The rate of calcification in the benign and malignant thyroid nodules had strong statistical significance(P0.01). Microcalcification had statistical significance in differentiating malignant thyroid nodules(P0.05).There was significant difference between the thyroid nodules accompanying with calcification in age groups, but not in sex groups. Conclusion The microcalcification was highly suggestive of malignant thyroid nodules and we should pay attention to the young patients who had thyroid nodules accompanying with calcification.