A study on the relationship between thyroid nodules with calcification and thyroid carcinoma / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the relationship between thyroid nodules with calcification and thyroid carcinoma and its significance in the screening of thyroid carcinoma in high risk group.Methods The clinical data of 1771 patient undergoing surgery for thyroid nodules from March, 2006 to March, 2009 in Huashan Hospital, Fudan University were retrospectively analyzed. Results Among 1771 patients, 500 were finally identified as having malignant tumors. Incidence of calcification in thyroid carcinoma was 68. 4%, and that in benign thyroid nodules was 27.0% ( χ2 = 259. 5, P ＜ 0. 05 ). The specificity of microcalcification for the diagnosis of carcinoma was 89. 4%, and its positive predictive value was 66. 3% ( χ2 = 368.6, P ＜ 0. 01 ). The incidence of thyroid carcinoma in patients ＜ 45 years was 39.2%, while that in patients ≥ 45 years was 22.9% ( χ2 = 51.12, P ＜ 0. 05 ). The incidence of carcinoma in patients of single thyroid nodule was 31.7% and that in those with multiple nodules was 26. 4% (χ2 =4. 766,P ＜ 0. 05). Metastasis was pathologically diagnosed in 26. 8% of lymph nodes found by preoperative ultrasonography. Conclusions The specificity of thyroid nodule calcification, especially microcalcification is high for the diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma. High-risk index for carcinoma includes thyroid nodules with microcalcification, ＜ 45 years old and single thyroid nodule.