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Objective:To investigate the value of CT tumor-thyroid marginal contact range (MCR) for predicting capsular invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with a diameter>1.0 cm and papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMC) with a diameter ≤ 1.0 cm, and to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of direct CT signs for lymph node metastasis.Methods:The CT data of 148 patients with PTC (>1.0 cm) and 193 patients with PTMC confirmed by surgery and pathology were retrospectively analyzed from January 2017 to April 2020 at Hangzhou First People′s Hospital. MCR was evaluated based on CT images and classified as<1/4 tumor circumference or ≥1/4 tumor circumference. Direct CT signs of cervical lymph nodes were observed, including cystic change, microcalcification, hyperenhancement, short/long diameter≥0.5, clustered lymph nodes or central area turbidity. The difference in the distribution of MCR between PTC (>1.0 cm) and PTMC was compared using the χ 2 test, and the efficiency of MCR and direct CT signs for diagnosing capsular invasion and lymph node metastasis was calculated using the pathological results as the gold standard. Results:In 148 PTC (>1.0 cm) and 193 PTMC patients, the pathological results showed capsular invasion in 88.5% (131/148) and 57.0% (110/193), and lymph node metastasis in 71.6% (106/148) and 44.0% (85/193), respectively. In PTC (>1.0 cm) patients, MCR≥1/4 tumor circumference was more common in patients with capsular invasion (χ2=22.211, P<0.001) and lymph node metastasis (χ2=4.746, P=0.029), and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity for predicting capsular invasion and lymph node metastasis were 84.7% (111/131) and 64.7% (11/17), 83.0% (88/106) and 33.3% (14/42), respectively. In PTMC patients, MCR≥1/4 tumor circumference was more common in patients with capsular invasion (χ2=66.066, P<0.001) and lymph node metastasis (χ2=5.343, P=0.021), and its sensitivity and specificity for predicting capsular invasion and lymph node metastasis were 87.3% (96/110) and 69.9% (58/83), 71.8% (61/85) and 44.4% (48/108), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of direct CT signs for diagnosing lymph node metastasis in PTC (>1.0 cm) and PTMC were 89.6% and 73.8%, 69.4% and 76.9%, respectively. Conclusions:Both direct CT signs and MCR ≥ 1/4 tumor circumference can predict cervical lymph node metastasis in PTC patients, and the former had higher sensitivity and specificity. MCR≥1/4 tumor circumference has high efficiency for predicting capsular invasion in PTC patients.
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Objective:To investigate the predictive value of lymph node size for ipsilateral central lymph node metastasis (ICLNM) of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) in CT examination.Methods:The CT data of 229 patients with single PTMC admitted to the Department of Oncology, Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine from Jan. 2018 to Jun. 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All cases were confirmed by surgery and pathology. The ipsilateral central lymph nodes were divided into <0.2 cm group, 0.2-0.4 cm group and ≥0.4 cm group according to their maximun diameters, and the distribution difference of positive and negative ICLNM among the three groups were observed and analyzed by χ 2 test. Results:In 229 PTMCs, the proportion of positive and negative ICLNM were 29.69% (68/229) and 70.31% (108/155) , respectively. Positive ICLNM in <0.2 cm group, 0.2-0.4 cm group and ≥0.4 cm group accounted for 11.43% (16/140) , 64.29% (36/56) and 81.82% (27/33) , respectively. When 0.2 cm and 0.4 cm were used as the threshold to determine positive ICLNM, the values of χ 2 and P between groups were 87.663 and <0.001. The sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing lymph node metastasis were 79.75% (63/79) and 82.67% (124/150) , 34.18% (27/79) and 96% (144/150) , respectively. The proportions of high enhancement, calcification and cystic degeneration were 3.2% (5/155) , 0.7% (1/155) and 0 (0/155) , respectively. Conclusions:In CT examination of patients with PTMC, the diameter of lymph nodes less than 0.2 cm highly indicates negative ICLNM. The proportion of positive ICLNM increased with increasing lymph node diameter, and the diameter of lymph nodes less than 0.4 cm highly indicates positive ICLNM.
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Objective:To investiqate the clinical and CT features of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.Methods:The clinical and CT data of 23 anaplastic thyroid carcinoma patients were retrospectively analyzed, mainly including gender, age, chief complaint, and CT signs such as tumor size, distribution status, morphology, calcification, necrosis, peripheral invasion, lymph node metastasis and lung metastasis.Results:Among 23 cases of ATC, the ratio of male to female was 7∶16. 21 cases (91.3%) had hoarseness or cervical mass, 8 cases (34.8%) had rapid enlargement of tumor size, 6 cases (26.1%) with lesion in unilateral lobe, 8 cases (34.8%) in unilateral lobe + isthmus, 9 cases (39.1%) in bilateral lobe + isthmus, diameter of tumors was (6.1 ± 1.7) cm, 20 cases (87.0%) had irregular shape of tumors. 16 cases (69.6%) with rough calcification, 17 cases (73.9%) with extensive necrosis, 15 cases (65.2%) with tracheoesophageal groove extension, 18 cases (78.3%) with cervical lymph node metastasis, 8 cases (34.8%) with lung metastasis, 16 cases (69.6%) with trachea invasion, 7 cases (30.4%) with common carotid artery invasion, and 10 cases (43.5%) with internal jugular vein invasion.Conclusions:The clinical features include elderly women patients, big tumors size, rapid enlargement of tumor size, CT signs include irregular shape, coarse calcification, extensive necrosis, tracheoesophageal groove extension, cervical lymph node metastasis, lung metastasis and invasion of trachea, common carotid artery and internal jugular vein. These features have great value in the diagnosis of ATC and evaluation of peripheral structure invasion, cervical lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis.
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Objective:To investigate the value of CT enhancement degree in diagnosing cervical lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) .Methods:CT data of 535 neck lymph nodes with pathological diagnosis in 251 cases were retrospectively analyzed. The ratio and difference between the density of CT enhancement and plain scan were calculated. Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze the distribution of ratio and difference in lymph node metastasis group and non-metastasis group. The optimal thresholds of ratio and difference in the two groups were obtained by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Results:535 cervical lymph nodes including 271 in metastatic group and 264 in non-metastatic group. The ratios of two groups were 2.30 (2.04, 2.76) and 1.66 (1.51, 1.81) ( Z=-16.94, P<0.05) respectively, and the differences were 58 (49, 76) Hu and 31 (22, 36) Hu ( Z=-18.045, P<0.05) respectively. When the ROC area under curve of ratio and difference between the two groups were 0.923 and 0.951 respectively, the optimal thresholds were 1.93 and 39.5Hu respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing lymph node metastasis were 84.9% and 87.1%、91.5% and 86.0%respectively.The sensitivity and specificity of combination of the two diagnosing lymph node metastasis were 82.3% and 91.7%. Conclusions:The ratio of enhancement and plain scan density ≥1.93 and the difference ≥39.5Hu have a high diagnostic efficiency for cervical lymph node metastasis of PTC. The specificity of the two is similar, but the latter has higher sensitivity. The combination of the two can significantly improve the specificity, thereby reducing unnecessary surgical trauma.
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Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of CT signs of ipsilateral central lymph node metastasis (ICLNM) in single papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) by multivariate regression analysis.Methods The CT data of 302 single PTC with diameter ＞1.0 cm confirmed by operation and pathology were retrospectively analyzed.The optimal thresholds of lymph node metastasis diameter were obtained by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.And multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze the relation between lymph node size,degree of enhancement,calcification or cystic degeneration,central turbidity,positive lateral cervical lymph nodes and the ICLNM positivity.Results In 302 PTC,the proportion of ICLNM positive and negative was 63.6％ (192/302) and 36.4％ (110/302),respectively.According to the ROC curve,with the increase of lymph node diameter,the sensitivity of diagnosing lymph node metastasis decreased and the specificity increased.When the threshold was 0.4 cm,Youden index was the largest (0.358),and the sensitivity and specificity was 50.5％ and 80.3％,respectively.Multivariate analysis showed that the diameter≥0.4 cm,high enhancement,central turbidity and lateral cervical lymph nodes positivity were the independent risk factors of ICLNM,and the OR values were 4.189[95％ CI (2.037-8.617)],3.875 [(95％ CI (1.561-9.617)],4.054[(95％CI (2.230-7.371)] and 8.735 [(95％ CI (1.093-69.831)],respectively.Calcification or cystic degeneration was not statistically significant in ICLNM.Conclusions The diameter ≥0.4 cm,high enhancement,central turbidity and lateral cervical lymph nodes positivity are the independent risk factors of ICLNM.Although calcification or cystic degeneration is not the independent risk factor,it has high accuracy for ICLNM positivity.The accurate identification of these signs can help surgeons to take a more thorough surgical treatment and has great significance to reduce postoperative recurrence.
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Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) histogram analysis for thyroid malignant solitary coarse calcification nodules (MSCN).Methods A total of 89 thyroid solitary coarse calcification nodules (coarse calcification ≥5 mm,no definite soft tissue around calcification) confirmed either by surgery or histopathological examination in 86 patients enrolled in this study from Jan.2009 to Dec.2015 were evaluated,including 33 MSCN from 32 patients and 56 benign solitary coarse calcification nodules (BSCN) from 56 patients.Overall,27 cut-off values were calculated by N (4 ≤ N ≤ 30) times of 50 Hounsfield units (HU) in the range of 200 HU to 1500 HU,and each cut-off value and the differences in the corresponding area percentages in the CT histogram were recorded for MSCN and BSCN.The optimal cut-off value and the corresponding area percentage were established by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Results In the 24 groups with an ROC area under the curve (AUC) of more than 0.7,at a cut-off value of 1150 HU and at an area percentage of no less than 98.4％,the ROC AUC reached a maximum of 0.86,and the accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity were 70.8％,93.9％,and 57.1％,respectively.At a cut-off value of 450 HU and at an area percentage of no less than 46.3％,the accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity were 76.4％,48.5％,and 92.9％,respectively.At a cut-off value of 550 HU and at an area percentage of no less than 81.5％,the accuracy,sensitivity,and specificity were 75.3％,33.3％,and 100％,respectively.Conclusions In comparison with the cut-off value of 1150 HU with an area percentage of no less than 98.4％,the sensitivities for the cut-off value of 450 HU with an area percentage of no less than 46.3％ and for the cut-off value of 550 HU with an area percentage of no less than 81.5％ were lower;however,the specificities increased significantly,providing an important basis for reducing the misdiagnosis of MSCN.
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Objective To investigate the diagnostic significance of CT in thyroid benign solitary coarse calcification nodules (BCCN).Methods A total of 56 BCCN confirmed by surgical pathology in 55 patients were evaluated,and they were compared with 33 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in 32 patients.The distribution differences of the average CT values and the maximum CT values in BCCN and PTC were observed.The optimal thresholds of the average CT values and the maximum CT values in BCCN and PTC were established by re ceiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis.Results The average CT values in BCCN and PTC were significantly different (t=4.992,P=0.000).The ROC area under curve (AUC) was 0.757 (95％ confidence interval 0.0657-0.0857).When the critical value was 743.4 Hu,Youden index was the largest and the sensitivity and specificity was 48.2％ and 93.9％,respectively.When the critical value was 891.1 Hu,the sensitivity and specificity was 21.4％ and 100％,respectively.The maximum CT values in BCCN and PTC were significantly different (t=5.029,P=0.000).The ROC AUC was 0.775 (95％ confidence interval 0.0681-0.0869).When the critical value was 1201.5 Hu,Youden index was the largest and the sensitivity and specificity was 51.7％ and 91.0％,respectively.When the critical value was 1373.5 Hu,the sensitivity and specificity was 42.9％ and 100％,respectively.Conclusions CT value is of great significance to the diagnosis of BCCN and has high specificity.Compared with the average CT value,the maximum CT value has a relatively higher sensitivity,providing an important base for reducing unnecessary surgical trauma.
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Objective To investigate the differential diagnostic value of CT scan minimum attenuation values (minAVsCT) in adrenal adenomas and non-adenomas.Methods CT scan data of 89 cases of clinical and pathologically confirmed adrenal adenomas were subjected to retrospective analysis and compared with data of 46 cases involving 50 non-adenomas (25 metastases,20 pheochromocytomas,3 lymphomas,and 2 cortical carcinomas).The distributions of mean attenuation values (meanAVs) ￥ 10 Hu and minAVs ￥0 Hu and CT histogram analysis with ≥ 10％ negative pixels were observed in adrenal adenomas and non-adenomas,and the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of these 3 methods for adenomas were calculated.Results The distributions of unenhanced meanAVs ￥ 10 Hu,minAVs ￥0 Hu,and CT histogram analysis with ≥ 10％ negative pixels among cases of adenoma and non-adenoma were 62.9％ (56/89) and 0％ (0/50) (x2=52.687,P=0.000),84.3％ (75/89) and 2％ (1/50) （x2=83.917,P=0.000),and 77.5％ (69/89) and 0％ (0/50) (x2=83.917,P=0.000),respectively.The respective diagnostic sensitivities,specificities,false negative rate (FNR),false positive rate (FPR),positive pre dictive value (PPV),negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy of these 3 methods for adenomas were 62.9％vs 84.3％ vs 77.5％,100％ vs 98.0％ vs 100％,37.1％ vs 15.7％ vs 22.5％,0 vs 2％ vs 0,100％ vs 98.7％ vs 100％,60.2％ vs 77.8％ vs 71.4％,and 76.3％ vs 89.2％ vs 85.6％.Conclusion Although the specificity and PPV of minAVs≤0Hu is slightly less than meanAVs≤10Hu and CT histogram analysis with ≥ 10％ negative pixels,it exhibits the best sensitivity and accuracy with a simple operation,and is thus suitable for clinical application.
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Objective To assess the value of CT in identification and diagnosis of benign and malignant calcified thyroid nodules.Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on the CT data of 313 surgically and pathologically confirmed cases with 378 calcified nodules.Based on the size,morphology,and number,calcification was divided into microcalcification (d≤2 mm and axis displayed in only one cross-section),coarse calcification (d＞2 mm or displayed in two or more cross-sections),annular calcification (arc or annular),and multiple microcalcifications (solitary multiple microcalcification without a soft tissue lump);a distribution of microcalcification,coarse calcification,and annular calcification as well as a clearer enhanced periphery or internal calcification than nonenhanced data in benign and malignant thyroid nodules were observed.Results The 378 nodules consisted of 259 benign nodules (68.5％) (all were nodular goiters) and 119 malignant nodules (31.5％) (including 111 papillary thyroid carcinomas,4 follicular carcinomas,3 medullary thyroid carcinomas and 1 lymphoma).Microcalcification was more common in malignant nodules (MNs) than in benign nodules (BNs),with a rate of 43.6％ vs 12.4％,respectively (P≤0.05),and its sensitivity,specificity,positive predicted value,and negative predicted value were 42.9％,87.6％,61.4％ and 76.9％,respectively.Coarse calcification,annular calcification,and clearer enhanced periphery or internal calcification than nonenhanced data were more common in BNs than in MNs,with rates of 52.9％ vs 20.2％ (P≤0.05),66.0％ vs 42.0％ (P≤0.05) and 43.2％ vs 19.3％ (P≤0.05),respectively,whose sensitivity,specificity,positive predicted value and negative predicted value were 66.0％ vs 22.4％ vs 43.2％,58.0％ vs 86.6％ vs 80.7％,77.4％ vs 78.4％ vs 83％,and 43.9％ vs 33.9％ vs 39.8％,respectively.Two multiple microcalcifications without a soft tissue lump were MNs (papillary thyroid carcinoma).Conclusions Microcalcification and multiple calcifications are conducive to the diagnosis of MNs,whereas coarse calcification,annular calcification,and clearer enhanced periphery or internal calcification than nonenhanced data benefit the diagnosis of BNs,but the low specificity and high false positive rate suggest that the judgment of BNs or MNs should not depend on coarse calcification alone.
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Objective To evaluate the clinical value of 320-detector CT in interventional treatment of bronchial artery hemoptysis. Methods CTA and DSA images of 30 patients with bronchial artery hemoptysis were retrospectively analyzed.Spatial anatomical characters of the bronchial arteries,such as the type of branches,origin and opening positions of the bronchial arteries were observed and recorded.Results In 30 patients,6 bronchial arteries distribution patterns were found,and the most common type was R1 L1 (43.3%).83 bronchial arteries were identified using CTA,including 38 on the right and 45 on the left.The right bronchial arteries mainly originated from the intercostal artery (52.6%),while the left bronchial arteries mainly from the descending aorta and aortic arch (82.2%).The opening positions of right and left bronchial arteries were mainly located at the right wall of the descending aorta (78.9%),and anterior wall of the descending aorta (62.2%),respectively.When the cacarina of trachea was used as the reference position,the left and right bronchial arteries were mainly located in the range of above 2 cm to below 1 cm from tracheal bifurcation, accounting for 80% and 89.5%,respectively.Compared with DSA,the sensitivity and specificity of CTA were 97.5% and 100%, respectively.Conclusion 320-detector CT can be used to clearly display the distribution patterns,origin and opening positions of bronchial arteries,and especially to find bronchial arteries with ectopic origin.It is possible to apply 320-detector CT in preoperative routine examination and postoperative evaluation of massive hemoptysis.