Mammography mostly revealed a nodular opacity (n=11, 68.8%) or an asymmetric density (n=2, 12.5%), or BIRADS IV
microcalcifications (n=2, 12.5%).
Features associated with malignancy include hypoechogenicity, solid composition, irregular margins, taller-than-wide orientation and
microcalcifications (17) with the latter three having the highest specificities.
Out of 100 lesions seen at HRUSG, 70 lesions (65 benign, 5 malignant) showed macrocalcifications, 27 lesions (17 malignant, 10 benign) showed
microcalcifications. If
microcalcification was considered as an independent factor identifying malignant lesion, it could detect malignancy with sensitivity, specificity positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 68%, 87%, 63% and 89% respectively.
In this present study, among women with TN, the prevalence of nodules with
microcalcifications or a taller-than-wide shape had no significant association with diabetes.
A ultrasound-based preoperative evaluation of the primary tumor's extent as well as lymph node involvement has become an essential procedure, which can modify the overall surgical approach in up to 40% of cases.[sup][8],[9] Several ultrasonographic characteristics of thyroid nodule have been found to correlate highly with malignancy, including irregular borders,
microcalcifications, height greater than width, hypoechogenicity, and increased vascularity.[sup][10],[11],[12],[13],[14] Only a few studies involved capsular invasion (CI) or extracapsular extension (ECE) of PTCs using ultrasonography.
If there are any
microcalcifications in a fibroadenoma, it may be a clue for intraductal carcinoma.
Predictive value for malignancy in the finding of
microcalcifications on ultrasonography of thyroid nodules.
There were prominent multifocal aggregates of granular, filamentous, and neuron-shaped
microcalcifications present in the cortex and subcortical white matter that focally involved the entire cortical ribbon.
In 5 (3.8%) patients, no abnormality was determined on US and these cases were diagnosed with
microcalcifications seen on mammography.