J Korean Soc Med Ultrasound.  2004 Mar;23(1):23-29.

Small Thyroid Nodules: Ultrasonographic Differentiation between Benign and Malignant Lesions

• Min SJ
• Yoon DY
• Choi CS
• Lim KJ
• Moon JH
• Seo YL
• Park SJ
• Yoon YC
• Yun EJ
• Kang IW
• Lee GK

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonography in the differentiation between benignity and malignancy in the evaluation of small thyroid nodules (the longest diameter <10 mm). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fine needle aspiration or surgery was performed for the evaluation of seventy two (44 benign and 28 malignant) small thyroid nodules from fifty eight patients. Ultrasonographic findings were retrospectively reviewed for the margin, echogenecity, presence of microcalcification, intranodular cystic change and peripheral hypoechoic halo. RESULTS: Ill-defined margin was more common in malignant nodules (61% vs 11%, p<0.05). In internal echogenecity, either iso- or hyperechogenicity was more coomon in benign nodules (45% vs 18%, p<0.05) while malignant nodules were often markedly hypoechoic (39% vs 18%, p<0.05). Malignant nodules contained more microcalcifications (36% vs 9%, p<0.05) whereas benign nodules often showed intranodular cystic change(39% vs 7%, p<0.05) and hypoechoic halo (41% vs 18%, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography can be useful in the differentiation between benign and malignant small thyroid nodules.

MeSH Terms

Biopsy, Fine-Needle
Humans
Retrospective Studies
Thyroid Gland*
Thyroid Nodule*
Ultrasonography