Ultrasound detection of thyroid nodule calcification in diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions

Objective To explore the value of ultrasound detection of thyroid nodule calcification in diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions.Methods Ultrasonic appearance of 382 patients were analyzed retrospectively.Detection of thyroid nodule calcification and relationship of the sand-like calcification with thyroid carcinoma were analyzed.Results Four hundred and twenty-seven thyroid nodules were found in 382 patients,including 81 malignant lesions and 346 benign thyroid nodules.The incidences of calcification and microcalcification were greater in malignant nodules than in benign ones(65.4% vs.16.7%,50.6% vs.7.8%),there were significant differences(P﹤0.01).Ultrasonographic calcification had a sensitivity of 65.4% and a specificity of 83.2% in thyroid carcinoma,while microcalcification had a sensitivity of 50.6% and a specificity of 92.2%.Conclusion Microcalcification of thyroid nodules has a better clinical value for ultrasonic diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions,and microcalcification may be one of the poor predictor in patients with thyroid carcinoma.