ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the value of ultrasound in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid lesions with rimlike peripheral calcification.Methods Seventy-three patients of thyroid nodules with rimlike peripheral calcification were analyzed retrospectively.All cases were confirmed by surgery and pathology.The efficacy of sonographic features on diagnosis of thyroid nodules was analyzed.Results Among 73 patients,58 (58/73,79.45％) were benign and 15 (15/73,20.55％) were malignant.Among the sonographic features mentioned,the mean size,margin,internal echo and presence of halo showed no significant differences between malignant and benign nodules (all P＞0.05).Proportion of thyroid nodules coexisting with nodular goiter,irregular thickness and interruption of rimlike peripheral calcification had significant differences between malignant and benign nodules (all P＜0.05).The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of coexisting with nodular goiter for diagnosing benign nodules were 77.59％ (45/58),60.00％ (9/15),88.24 ％ (45/51),40.91％ (9/22),respectively.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of irregular thickness for diagnosing malignant nodules were 53.33 ％ (8/15),87.93％ (51/58),53.33％ (8/15),87.93％ (51/58),respectively.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of interruption of rimlike peripheral calcification for diagnosing malignant nodules were 73.33％ (11/15),68.97％ (40/58),37.93％ (11/29),90.91％ (40/44),respectively.Conclusion Ultrasonography is helpful to diagnosis of thyroid nodules with rimlike peripheral calcification.Irregular thickness and interruption of calcification are associated with malignancy.