Sonographic features of medullary thyroid carcinomas according to tumor size: comparison with papillary thyroid carcinomas.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in sonographic features of medullary thyroid carcinomas according to nodule size and compared with findings for papillary thyroid carcinomas.


METHODS
This study included 38 medullary thyroid carcinoma nodules and 91 papillary thyroid carcinoma nodules, which were confirmed by pathologic examination between May 2008 and September 2013. Nodules were divided into those that were greater than 10 mm (large nodules) and 10 mm or less (small nodules). The differences in sonographic features (composition, echogenicity, margin, calcifications, and shape) between groups were analyzed with a χ(2) test.


RESULTS
Large medullary thyroid carcinomas more frequently showed an ovoid-to-round shape and a smooth margin; small medullary thyroid carcinomas more frequently showed a taller-than-wide shape and a spiculated margin; the differences were statistically significant between the groups (P < .05). Compared with papillary thyroid carcinomas, large medullary thyroid carcinomas tended to have an ovoid-to-round shape, a smooth margin, and macrocalcifications and were more frequently diagnosed as indeterminate nodules (P < .05); however, there were no significant differences in the internal composition, calcifications, echogenicity, margin, and shape between small medullary thyroid carcinomas and small papillary thyroid carcinomas (P > .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that the sonographic features of medullary thyroid carcinomas are associated with tumor size; furthermore, the sonographic features of medullary thyroid carcinomas are similar to those of small papillary thyroid carcinomas but greatly different from those of large papillary thyroid carcinomas. Large medullary thyroid carcinomas are more commonly diagnosed as indeterminate nodules by sonography than large papillary thyroid carcinomas, and fine-needle aspiration biopsy or serum calcitonin measurement may be helpful.
['Zhou|Liguang|L|', 'Chen|Bo|B|', 'Zhao|Miaoqing|M|', 'Zhang|Huawei|H|', 'Liang|Bo|B|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D002277:Carcinoma D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D012189:Retrospective Studies D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms D047368:Tumor Burden D014463:Ultrasonography D055815:Young Adult
medullary thyroid carcinoma papillary thyroid carcinoma sonography head and neck ultrasound thyroid gland