Assessment of association between macrocalcification in thyroid nodule and thyroid carcinoma with ultrasound

Objective To determine the association between macrocalcificatoin in thyroid nodule and thyroid carcinoma. Methods Sonogram of 169 patients of thyroid nodule with macrocalcification was retrospectively analyzed. The ultrasonographic finding was compared with pathological results after excision. Macrocalcification was divided into three types and assessed the relation between each type macrocalcification and thyroid carcinoma.Results Macrocalcification was detected in 176 nodules, 122 were malignant, and 54 were benign. Irregular macrocalcification were more common in malignant nodule (82.9%, 34/41), the malignant risk of solitary macrocalcification were lower (58.5%,31/53),and the malignant risk of curvilinear macrocalcification were between irregular macrocalcification and solitary macrocalcification (69.5%, 57/82). Conclusion Ultrasonography can play an important role in differentiating benign and malignant thyroid nodule macrocalcification. Key words: Thyroid nodule; Thyroid neoplasms; Ultrasonography; Macrocalcification