CT imaging features of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the CT characteristics of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and evaluate the diagnostic value of CT in this disease.Methods The CT findings of 10 patients with pathologically proved anaplastic thyroid carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed.The patients included 7 females and 3 males.Their age ranged from 25.0 to 78 years with median of 61 years.Multi-slices plain and post contrast CT scans were performed in all patients.Results Unilateral thyroid was involved in 6 patients.Unilateral thyroid and thyroid isthmus were both involved in 2 patients due to big size.Bilateral thyroid were involved in 2 patients.The maximum diameter of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma ranged from 2.9-12.8 cm with mean of (4.5 ± 1.4) cm.All lesions demonstrated unclear margins and envelope invasion.The densities of all lesions were heterogeneous and obvious necrosis areas were noted on precontrast images.Seven lesions showed varied calcifications,and coarse granular calcifications were found in 5 lesions among them.All lesions showed remarkable heterogenous enhancement on post-contrast CT.The CT value of solid portion of the tumor increased 40 HU after contrast media administration.The ratios of CT value which comparing of the tumor with contralateral sternocleidomastoid muscle were 0.69-0.82 (0.76 ± 0.18)and 1.25-1.41 (1.33 ± 0.28)on pre and post CT,respectively.Enlarged cervical lymph nodes were found in 6 cases (60.0％).It showed obvious homogeneous enhancement or irregular ring-like enhancement on post-contrast images and dot calcifications were seen in 1 case.Conclusions Relative larger single thyroid masses with coarse granular calcifications,necrosis,envelope invasion,remarkable heterogeneous enhancing and enlarged lymph nodes on CT are suggestive of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.