Clin Ultrasound.  2018 May;3(1):8-14. 10.18525/cu.2018.3.1.8.

The Relationship between Ultrasonographic Features and Clinical Characteristics of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma

• Park MJ
• Choi YS
• Song HS
• Kim BS

• KMID: 2555361
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18525/cu.2018.3.1.8

Abstract

Background/Aims
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between ultrasound (US) features and clinical characteristics of patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).
Methods
Twenty-three patients who were diagnosed with MTC in Kosin University Gospel Hospital were enrolled in this study. US criteria were classified according to the recommendations of the American Thyroid Association.
Results
Among 23 cases of MTC, extrathyroidal extension was observed in four cases (17.4%) and lymph node metastasis in 12 cases (52.2%). The serum calcitonin level was higher according to the tumor size (p = 0.004, r = 0.55). Thyroid US findings of MTCs were all solid tumors. Intermediate suspicion pattern nodules were 39.1% and high suspicion pattern nodules were 60.9% in MTCs. US features showed significant difference between margin (p = 0.01) and calcification pattern (p = 0.00) between intermediate suspicion and high suspicion pattern nodules. The mean serum calcitonin level before surgery was 425.5 ± 484.4 pg/mL in intermediate suspicion pattern nodules, and 1,011.2 ± 598.4 pg/mL in high suspicion pattern nodules (p = 0.02). Lymph node metastasis was also significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.01).
Conclusion
This study suggests that US features of MTC is not typical, but it is necessary to screen serum calcitonin selectively in case of a solid tumor with high suspicion pattern nodule.

Keyword

갑상선 수질암; 초음파; 칼시토닌; Carcinoma, Medullary; Ultrasonography; Calcitonin