Ultrasonography.  2015 Jan;34(1):45-50. 10.14366/usg.14031.

A comparison of lymphocytic thyroiditis with papillary thyroid carcinoma showing suspicious ultrasonographic findings in a background of heterogeneous parenchyma

• Nam SY
• Shin JH
• Ko EY
• Hahn SY

• KMID: 2382030
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14366/usg.14031

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to compare ultrasonographic features in patients with lymphocytic thyroiditis (LT) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) having suspicious thyroid nodule(s) in a background of heterogeneous parenchyma and to determine the clinical and radiological predictors of malignancy.
METHODS
We reviewed the cases of 100 patients who underwent ultrasonography between April 2011 and October 2012, and showed suspicious thyroid nodule(s) in a background of heterogeneous parenchyma. Eight patients who did not undergo ultrasonography-guided fineneedle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and 34 cases of follow-up ultrasonography after initial FNAC were excluded. We compared the benign and malignant nodules in terms of their clinical and radiological factors.
RESULTS
For the 58 nodules including 31 LTs (53.4%) and 27 PTCs (46.6< or =), the mean tumor sizes of the two groups were 0.96 cm for LT and 0.97 cm for PTC. A univariate analysis revealed that PTCs were more frequent in patients younger than 45 years and having microcalcifications than was LT. An independent predictor of PTC after adjustment was an age of <45 years.
CONCLUSION
LT mimics malignancy in a background of heterogeneous parenchyma on ultrasonography. A young age of >45 years is the most important predictor of malignancy in this condition.

Keyword

Thyroid nodule; Thyroiditis; Thyroid cancer, papillary; Ultrasonography; Thyroid neoplasms

MeSH Terms

Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Neoplasms*
Thyroid Nodule
Thyroiditis
Thyroiditis, Autoimmune*
Ultrasonography