Ultrasonography Search

CLOSE


Lee, Kim, Na, Kim, Oh, Kim, Yoon, Kim, and Bak: Malignancy risk of thyroid nodules with minimal cystic changes: a multicenter retrospective study

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this multicenter study was to investigate the malignancy risk of minimally cystic thyroid nodules (MCTNs) using cyto-histopathologic diagnoses as the reference standard.

Methods

From June 2015 to September 2015, 5,601 thyroid nodules (≥1 cm) from 4,989 consecutive patients who underwent thyroid ultrasonography (US) at 26 institutions were retrospectively analyzed. Each thyroid nodule was categorized according to its cystic proportion: purely solid, minimally cystic (≤10%), and partially cystic (>10%). The malignancy risk of MCTNs was compared with those of purely solid nodules and partially cystic thyroid nodules (PCTNs). The malignancy risk of MCTNs was assessed according to echogenicity and the presence of suspicious US features.

Results

The prevalence of MCTNs was 22.5%. The overall malignancy risk of MCTNs was 8.8%, which was significantly lower than that of purely solid nodules (29.5%) (P<0.001), and slightly higher than that of PCTNs (6.2%) (P=0.013). The risk of malignancy associated with MCTNs was similar to that of PCTNs regardless of echogenicity or the presence of suspicious US features (all P>0.05). MCTNs were associated with a higher risk of malignancy in hypoechoic nodules than in isohyperechoic nodules and in nodules with suspicious US features than in those without suspicious US features (all P<0.001).

Conclusion

The malignancy risk of MCTNs was significantly lower than that of purely solid nodules. MCTNs could be categorized as PCTNs rather than as solid nodules to increase the accuracy of the risk stratification system for thyroid nodules.

Introduction

Ultrasonography (US) is the primary tool used to evaluate thyroid nodules and their malignancy risk, and to identify patients who require fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or core needle biopsy (CNB) [1]. Many international societies have proposed risk stratification systems (RSSs) for the clinical management of thyroid nodules. Most of these systems stratify malignancy risk based on US features such as composition, echogenicity, punctate echogenic foci (microcalcifications), nonparallel orientation (taller-than-wide shape), and irregular (microlobulated/spiculated) margin [2-7].
Although US-based RSSs have been increasingly used for the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules [2-7], each RSS incorporates different definitions for the US lexicon that describes solid composition [8]. The 2021 Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (K-TIRADS) [5] defines solid nodules as those for which an obvious cystic component is not visualized, whereas the American College of Radiology (ACR)-TIRADS [6] defines solid nodules as nodules that contain small cystic components occupying no more than approximately 5% of the overall volume. The European (EU)-TIRADS [7] defines solid nodules as nodules composed almost entirely of soft tissue with <10% liquid. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) [3] and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology/Associazione Medici Endocrinologi (AACE/ACE/AME) do not clearly specify definitions of composition [4]. These differences in definition could affect the overall diagnostic performance of US-based RSSs. Thus, appropriate US-based definitions for solid composition need to be standardized for thyroid nodules by assessing the malignancy risk of minimally cystic thyroid nodules (MCTNs).
A previous study [9] that evaluated the malignancy risk of MCTNs defined MCTNs as nodules with a cystic portion ≤10% compared with purely solid or partially cystic thyroid nodules (PCTNs). MCTNs showed a low risk of malignancy (3.3%), similar to PCTNs, regardless of echogenicity or the presence of suspicious US features [9]. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, however, no multicenter study has reported the malignancy risk of MCTNs. Therefore, the aim of this multicenter study was to investigate the malignancy risk of MCTNs using cyto-histopathologic diagnoses.

Materials and Methods

Compliance with Ethical Standards

The institutional review boards of 26 different hospitals approved this study, and the requirement for informed patient consent was waived because of its retrospective nature.

Study Population

Patient data were collected from the 26 hospitals (Thyroid Imaging Network Korea, THINK). Consecutive patients who underwent thyroid US between June 2015 and September 2015 were enrolled in this study: Patients who had nodules ≥1 cm and had undergone FNA, CNB, or surgery for nodules were included. Patients were excluded from the study if the thyroid nodule was smaller than 1 cm, there was no reference standard test (biopsy or surgery), or the image quality was suboptimal. Among 22,775 consecutive patients who had undergone thyroid US at 26 institutions, 16,679 patients were excluded due to a thyroid nodule size less than 1 cm (n=12,130), no reference standard test (biopsy or surgery) (n=4,304), or suboptimal image quality (n=245). Among them, 1,015 patients with 1,102 nodules were further excluded because of inconclusive biopsy results. Furthermore, 107 nodules were excluded because the US characteristics could not be analyzed in 59 isolated macrocalcifications (entirely calcified nodules) and 48 purely cystic nodules (Fig. 1).
Ultimately, 5,601 thyroid nodules in 4,989 consecutive patients (4,101 women, 888 men; mean age, 53.3±12.7 years; age range, 19 to 93 years) were included. Among the 5,601 nodules, 1,089 were finally diagnosed as malignant based on histopathological results after surgery (n=927, 85.1%) or malignant FNA or CNB diagnoses (n=162, 14.9%). The other 4,512 nodules were finally diagnosed as benign nodules based on cyto-histopathology after surgery (n=390, 8.6%), at least two benign diagnoses via FNA or CNB (n=594, 13.2%), or one benign diagnosis based on FNA or CNB that did not show follicular neoplasm, suspicious malignant, or malignant biopsy results in the initial or repeat FNA or CNB (n=3,528, 78.2%).

US Examination and Nodule Classification

Real-time US was performed with a high-resolution ultrasound scanner that was equipped with a 5–12 MHz or an 8–15 MHz linear probe. The scanning protocol included both transverse and longitudinal images of the thyroid nodules, using representative Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) images. To establish a baseline consensus regarding the US lexicon of thyroid nodules, two consensus meetings were held prior to this study. Seventeen experienced radiologists (with 8–22 years of experience with thyroid US) participated to reach a consensus on the definitions of the US features to be analyzed.
In this study, US images were analyzed in DICOM format using an online program (AIM AiCRO; https://study.aim-aicro.com). Seventeen experienced radiologists, who were blinded to histopathologic findings and the final diagnoses, retrospectively analyzed the US features of each thyroid nodule according to the revised 2021 K-TIRADS lexicon for composition, echogenicity, orientation (shape), margin, and echogenic foci (calcifications) [5]. The composition of each thyroid nodule was defined according to the percentage of the cystic portion in the entire nodule: purely solid (no cystic portion), MCTNs (cystic portion ≤10%), and PCTNs (predominantly cystic or predominantly solid nodules with any cystic portion >10%) (Fig. 2). Vessels, marked hypoechogenicity of the solid portion, fibrosis, or shadowing artifacts were carefully distinguished from minimally cystic changes. Nodule echogenicity was categorized into hypoechogenicity (marked or mild hypoechogenicity) or isohyperechogenicity based on the relative echogenicity of the nodule compared with the normal thyroid parenchyma and the anterior neck muscles (Fig. 3). Punctate echogenic foci (microcalcifications), nonparallel orientation (taller-than-wide shape), and irregular (microlobulated/spiculated) margin were defined as suspicious US features [5,10].

Statistical Analysis

The malignancy risk of MCTNs was evaluated in all nodules and subgroups based on composition, size, echogenicity and the presence of suspicious US features (punctate echogenic foci, nonparallel orientation, and irregular margin). The chi-square test or Fisher exact test was used to compare malignancy risk according to nodule composition in all nodules and according to echogenicity and the presence of suspicious US features in subgroups. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS for Windows (version 24.0, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). A P-value <0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

Results

Nodule Characteristics

The demographic characteristics of 5,601 nodules in 4,989 patients are presented in Table 1. The final diagnoses of the malignant nodules included 989 papillary thyroid carcinomas (90.8%) and 100 other malignant tumors (9.2%), which comprised 62 follicular carcinomas (5.7%), 12 medullary carcinomas (1.1%), seven poorly differentiated carcinomas (0.6%), six anaplastic carcinomas (0.6%), five metastases (0.5%), four unspecified malignancies (0.4%), three lymphomas (0.3%), and one squamous cell carcinoma (0.1%).

Overall Malignancy Risk of Thyroid Nodules According to Composition

Table 2 lists the frequency and malignancy risk of 5,601 thyroid nodules according to their composition. The frequency of purely solid nodules, MCTNs, and PCTNs was 3,041 (54.3%), 1,259 (22.5%), and 1,301 (23.2%), respectively. MCTNs were more prevalent in benign nodules than malignant nodules (P<0.001). The overall malignancy risk of MCTNs was 8.8%, which was significantly lower than that of purely solid nodules (29.5%) (P<0.001) and slightly higher than that of PCTNs (6.2%) (P=0.013).

Malignancy Risk of Thyroid Nodules According to Composition and Echogenicity

Table 3 shows the frequency and malignancy risk of thyroid nodules according to their composition and echogenicity. MCTNs were found in 12.4% (249/2,014) of the hypoechoic nodule group and 28.2% (1,010/3,587) of the isohyperechoic nodule group. MCTNs were more prevalent in benign nodules than in malignant nodules in both hypoechoic nodules and isohyperechoic nodules (P<0.001 and P=0.004, respectively). MCTNs were associated with a higher malignancy risk in the hypoechoic nodule group (18.1%) than in the isohyperechoic nodule group (6.5%) (P<0.001). However, in both the hypoechoic and isohyperechoic nodule groups, the malignancy risks of MCTNs were similar to those of PCTNs (P=0.203 and P=0.092, respectively) and significantly lower than those of purely solid nodules (all P<0.001).

Malignancy Risk of Thyroid Nodules According to Composition and the Presence of Suspicious US Features

Table 4 presents the frequency and malignancy risk of thyroid nodules according to their composition and the presence of suspicious US features. MCTNs constituted 16.0% (242/1,514) of the group of nodules with suspicious US features and 24.9% (1,017/4,087) of the group of nodules without suspicious US features. MCTNs were more prevalent among benign nodules than among malignant nodules, both in the group of nodules with suspicious US features and in the group of nodules without suspicious US features (all P<0.001). MCTNs were associated with a higher malignancy risk in nodules with suspicious US features (20.7%) than in those without suspicious US features (6.0%) (P<0.001). However, in both nodules with and without suspicious US features, the malignancy risks of MCTNs were similar to those of PCTNs (P=0.272 and P=0.118, respectively) and significantly lower than those of purely solid nodules (all P<0.001).

Malignancy Risk of Thyroid Nodules According to Composition and Nodule Size

Purely solid nodules showed a higher malignancy risk in small nodules (≤2 cm) than in large nodules (>2 cm) (P<0.001). In comparison, MCTNs and PCTNs did not show different malignancy risks according to nodule size (P=0.074 and P=0.141, respectively). In both small (≤2 cm) and large (>2 cm) nodules, the malignancy risks of MCTNs were similar to those of PCTNs (P=0.093 and P=0.056, respectively) and significantly lower than those of purely solid nodules (all P<0.001) (Table 5).

Discussion

This multicenter study investigated the malignancy risk of thyroid nodules with minimal cystic changes. The distribution of purely solid nodules, MCTNs, and PCTNs was 3,041 (54.3%), 1,259 (22.5%), and 1,301 (23.2%), respectively. The overall malignancy risk of MCTNs was 8.8%, which was significantly lower than that of purely solid nodules (29.5%) (P<0.001). The overall risk of malignancy associated with MCTNs was 8.8%, which was higher than the previously reported result of 3.3%. A previous study [9] reported that the malignancy risk associated with purely solid nodules, MCTNs, and PCTNs was 14.8% (108/730), 3.3% (2/61), and 3.3% (7/209), respectively, with MCTNs showing the same malignancy risk as PCTNs. This difference might be due to the low prevalence of MCTNs (6.1%), few cases of hypoechoic MCTNs (n=9) and MCTNs with suspicious US features (n=6) in the previous study. In this study, MCTNs were more prevalent (22.5%) and there were many cases of hypoechoic MCTNs (n=249) and MCTNs with suspicious US features (n=242). The malignancy risks associated with hypoechoic MCTNs (18.1%) and MCTNs with suspicious US features (20.7%) were higher than those of isohyperechoic MCTNs (6.5%) and MCTNs without suspicious US features (6.0%), which might explain why the overall malignancy risk of MCTNs was higher in the present study than in the previous one [9].
Therefore, it seems appropriate to define solid nodules as purely solid nodules without obvious cystic components in the US lexicon, as this definition enables more accurate risk stratification and higher interobserver agreement. First, the malignancy risk of MCTNs was significantly lower than that of purely solid nodules. Second, the malignancy risk of MCTNs was similar to that of PCTNs in all subgroups categorized according to echogenicity or presence of suspicious US features. Although the overall malignancy risk was slightly higher in MCTNs than PCTNs, the malignancy risk estimated by US features is not based on a single US predictor, but rather a combination of US features [5,11-13].
Finally, a quantitative analysis of the cystic portion may not be accurate because solid nodules present as a continuum [6]. Estimating the cystic portion as <10% or <5% in a nodule is highly subjective, and high interobserver agreement might not be achievable [6,7]. Thus, defining solid nodules as purely solid nodules may help increase the interobserver agreement for solid composition. Moreover, in EU-TIRADS and ACR-TIRADS, minimally cystic nodules are classified as solid, so classifying minimally cystic nodules as partially cystic nodules would be expected to increase the accuracy of the RSS for thyroid nodules and reduce the unnecessary biopsy rate.
Previous investigators reported that most malignant thyroid tumors were solid (81.6%–93%) [5,14-17], and the malignancy risk of solid nodules was higher (24.1%–34.7%) than that of PCTNs (3.3%–7.1%) [12-15]. This study showed similar results, as most of the malignant thyroid tumors were purely solid (82.4%), and solid tumors were associated with higher malignancy risk (29.5%) than PCTNs (6.2%) or MCTNs (8.8%). Accurately determining the presence of minimally cystic changes can be difficult in cases that include complicated cysts with hemorrhage or thick colloid materials, as well as in cases of fibrosis with marked hypoechogenicity [9,17]. In this study, nodules without obvious anechoic cystic change were categorized as purely solid nodules to enhance interobserver agreement.
This study has several limitations. First, cases without a final diagnosis or inconclusive biopsy results were excluded, which may have resulted in selection bias. Second, the retrospective assessment of static sonograms inherently limited the accuracy of the US interpretation for minimally cystic changes. Third, US features were described by different radiologists, resulting in interobserver variability; however, interobserver variability was not investigated in the present study.
The malignancy risk of MCTNs was low (8.8%) and significantly lower than that of purely solid nodules (29.5%). The risk of malignancy associated with MCTNs was similar to that of PCTNs, regardless of echogenicity or the presence of suspicious US features. Therefore, MCTNs could be categorized as PCTNs rather than as solid nodules to increase the accuracy of the risk stratification system for thyroid nodules.

Notes

Author Contributions

Conceptualization: Lee YJ, Kim JY, Na DG, Kim JH. Data acquisition: Lee YJ, Yoon RG, Kim SK, Bak S. Data analysis or interpretation: Lee YJ, Kim JY, Na DG, Kim JH, Oh M, Kim DB, Yoon RG, Kim SK, Bak S. Drafting of the manuscript: Lee YJ, Kim JY. Critical revision of the manuscript: Lee YJ, Na DG, Kim JH, Oh M, Kim DB, Yoon RG, Kim SK, Bak S. Approval of the final version of the manuscript: all authors.

Conflict of Interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to all doctors from 26 different hospitals who provided ultrasound data on thyroid nodules for the Thyroid Imaging Network of Korea registry
Ji Eun Shin1, Hye Shin Ahn2, Min Ji Hong2, Nami Choi3, Hwa Seon Shin4, Donghyun Kim5, Beomsu Kim6, Boeun Lee7, Hyun Jeong Kim8, Eun Kyoung Lee9, Wooyul Paik10, Jung Hyo Rhim11, A jung Chu11, Jong Yoon Lee11, Sun-Won Park11, Chang Yoon Lee12, Hyun Kyung Lim13, Jin Yong Sung14, Yeo Koon Kim15, Se Jin Cho15, Joon Hyung Lee16, So Lyung Jung17, Tae Yoon Kim18, Eun Ju Ha19, Yun Young Lee20, Jung Hwan Baek21, Young Jun Choi21, Sae Rom Chung21, Chong Hyun Suh21, Ji Ye Lee22, Inpyeong Hwang22, Roh-Eul Yoo22, Koung Mi Kang22, Tae Jin Yun22, Sung-Hye You23
1Department of Radiology, CHA University Gangnam Medical Center, 2Department of Radiology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, 3Department of Radiology, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 4Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, 5Department of Radiology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, 6Department of Radiology, Kosin University College of Medicine, 7Department of Radiology, Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, 8Department of Radiology, Daejeon St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 9Department of Radiology, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, 10Department of Radiology, GangNeung Asan Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 11Department of Radiology, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, 12Department of Radiology, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, 13Department of Radiology, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, 14Department of Radiology, Thyroid Center, Daerim Saint Mary's Hospital, 15Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 16Department of Radiology, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, 17Department of Radiology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 18Department of Radiology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 19Department of Radiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, 20Department of Radiology, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, 21Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center,University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 22Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 23Department of Radiology, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine

References

1. Lee JY, Baek JH, Ha EJ, Sung JY, Shin JH, Kim JH, et al. 2020 Imaging guidelines for thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer: Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology. Korean J Radiol 2021;22:840–860.
crossref pmid pmc pdf
2. Perros P, Boelaert K, Colley S, Evans C, Evans RM, Gerrard Ba G, et al. Guidelines for the management of thyroid cancer. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2014;81 Suppl 1:1–122.
crossref pmid
3. Haugen BR, Alexander EK, Bible KC, Doherty GM, Mandel SJ, Nikiforov YE, et al. 2015 American Thyroid Association management guidelines for adult patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer: the American Thyroid Association Guidelines Task Force on Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. Thyroid 2016;26:1–133.
crossref pmid pmc
4. Gharib H, Papini E, Garber JR, Duick DS, Harrell RM, Hegedus L, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Endocrinology, and Associazione Medici Endocrinologi medical guidelines for clinical practice for the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules: 2016 update. Endocr Pract 2016;22:622–639.
pmid
5. Ha EJ, Chung SR, Na DG, Ahn HS, Chung J, Lee JY, et al. 2021 Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System and imaging-based management of thyroid nodules: Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology Consensus Statement and Recommendations. Korean J Radiol 2021;22:2094–2123.
crossref pmid pmc pdf
6. Tessler FN, Middleton WD, Grant EG. Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS): a user's guide. Radiology 2018;287:29–36.
crossref pmid
7. Russ G, Bonnema SJ, Erdogan MF, Durante C, Ngu R, Leenhardt L. European Thyroid Association guidelines for ultrasound malignancy risk stratification of thyroid nodules in adults: the EU-TIRADS. Eur Thyroid J 2017;6:225–237.
crossref pmid pmc pdf
8. Ha EJ, Na DG, Baek JH. Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System: current status, challenges, and future perspectives. Korean J Radiol 2021;22:1569–1578.
crossref pmid pmc pdf
9. Na DG, Kim JH, Kim DS, Kim SJ. Thyroid nodules with minimal cystic changes have a low risk of malignancy. Ultrasonography 2016;35:153–158.
crossref pmid pmc pdf
10. Chung SR, Ahn HS, Choi YJ, Lee JY, Yoo RE, Lee YJ, et al. Diagnostic performance of the modified Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System for thyroid malignancy: a multicenter validation study. Korean J Radiol 2021;22:1579–1586.
crossref pmid pmc pdf
11. Seo H, Na DG, Kim JH, Kim KW, Yoon JW. Ultrasound-based risk stratification for malignancy in thyroid nodules: a four-tier categorization system. Eur Radiol 2015;25:2153–2162.
crossref pmid pdf
12. Kwak JY, Han KH, Yoon JH, Moon HJ, Son EJ, Park SH, et al. Thyroid imaging reporting and data system for US features of nodules: a step in establishing better stratification of cancer risk. Radiology 2011;260:892–899.
crossref pmid
13. Na DG, Baek JH, Sung JY, Kim JH, Kim JK, Choi YJ, et al. Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System risk stratification of thyroid nodules: categorization based on solidity and echogenicity. Thyroid 2016;26:562–572.
crossref pmid
14. Salmaslioglu A, Erbil Y, Dural C, Issever H, Kapran Y, Ozarmagan S, et al. Predictive value of sonographic features in preoperative evaluation of malignant thyroid nodules in a multinodular goiter. World J Surg 2008;32:1948–1954.
crossref pmid pdf
15. Lee MJ, Kim EK, Kwak JY, Kim MJ. Partially cystic thyroid nodules on ultrasound: probability of malignancy and sonographic differentiation. Thyroid 2009;19:341–346.
crossref pmid
16. Henrichsen TL, Reading CC, Charboneau JW, Donovan DJ, Sebo TJ, Hay ID. Cystic change in thyroid carcinoma: prevalence and estimated volume in 360 carcinomas. J Clin Ultrasound 2010;38:361–366.
crossref pmid
17. Chen SJ, Yu SN, Tzeng JE, Chen YT, Chang KY, Cheng KS, et al. Characterization of the major histopathological components of thyroid nodules using sonographic textural features for clinical diagnosis and management. Ultrasound Med Biol 2009;35:201–208.
crossref pmid

Flowchart showing the selection of the study population.

US, ultrasonography.
usg-22059f1.jpg
Fig. 1.

An isoechoic and minimally cystic thyroid nodule without suspicious ultrasonography features in a 65-year-old woman.

Transverse (A) and longitudinal (B) gray-scale sonograms show a minimally cystic thyroid nodule (cystic portion ≤10% of the entire nodule) with isoechogenicity, smooth margin, and parallel orientation in the left lobe (arrows, 32×24×17 mm). The final diagnosis confirmed a benign follicular nodule.
usg-22059f2.jpg
Fig. 2.

A hypoechoic and minimally cystic thyroid nodule with suspicious ultrasonography features in a 70-year-old woman.

Transverse (A) and longitudinal (B) gray-scale sonograms show a minimally cystic thyroid nodule (cystic portion ≤10% of the entire nodule) with mild hypoechogenicity, irregular margin, and nonparallel orientation (in the transverse plane) in the right lobe (arrows, 11×12×13 mm). The final diagnosis confirmed a papillary thyroid carcinoma.
usg-22059f3.jpg
Fig. 3.
Table 1.
Demographic characteristics of 4,989 patients with 5,601 nodules
Total Benign Malignant
Patients 4,989 3,991 998
 Age (year) 53.5±12.7 54.6±12.1 48.8±13.9
 Sex (female/male) 4,101/888 3,335/656 766/232
Nodules 5,601 4,512 1,089
 Size of nodule (mm) 20.6±10.8 21.1±10.7 19.1±11.1
  ≤2 cm 3,504 (62.6) 2,715 (60.2) 789 (72.5)
  >2 cm 2,097 (37.4) 1,797 (39.8) 300 (27.5)

Values are presented as mean±standard deviation or number (%).

Table 2.
The frequency and malignancy risk of thyroid nodules according to composition
Composition Overall (n=5,601) Benign nodule (n=4,512) Malignant nodule (n=1,089) Malignancy risk (%) P-value (benign vs. malignant)
Purely solid 3,041 2,144 (70.5) 897 (29.5) 29.5 <0.001
Minimally cystic 1,259 1,148 (91.2) 111 (8.8) 8.8 <0.001
Partially cystic 1,301 1,220 (93.8) 81 (6.2) 6.2 <0.001

Values are presented as number (%) unless otherwise indicated. The P-values comparing the malignancy risks: MCTNs vs. purely solid nodules (P<0.001) and MCTNs vs. PCTNs (P=0.013).

MCTN, minimally cystic thyroid nodule; PCTN, partially cystic thyroid nodule.

Table 3.
The frequency and malignancy risk of thyroid nodules according to composition and echogenicity
Nodule echogenicity Overall (n=5,601) Benign nodule (n=4,512) Malignant nodule (n=1,089) Malignancy risk (%) P-value (benign vs. malignant)
Hypoechogenicity 2,014 1,236 (61.4) 778 (38.6) 38.6 <0.001
Purely solid 1,560 855 (54.8) 705 (45.2) 45.2 <0.001
Minimally cystic 249 204 (81.9) 45 (18.1) 18.1 <0.001
Partially cystic 205 177 (86.3) 28 (13.7) 13.7 <0.001
Isohyperechogenicity 3,587 3,276 (91.3) 311 (8.7) 8.7 <0.001
Purely solid 1,481 1,289 (87.0) 192 (13.0) 13.0 <0.001
Minimally cystic 1,010 944 (93.5) 66 (6.5) 6.5 0.004
Partially cystic 1,096 1,043 (95.2) 53 (4.8) 4.8 <0.001

Values are presented as number (%) unless otherwise indicated. The P-values comparing the malignancy risks in the hypoechoic nodule group: MCTNs vs. PCTNs (P=0.203) and MCTNs vs. purely solid nodules (P<0.001). The P-values comparing the malignancy risks in the isohyperechoic nodule group: MCTNs vs. PCTNs (P=0.092) and MCTNs vs. purely solid nodules (P<0.001).

MCTN, minimally cystic thyroid nodule; PCTN, partially cystic thyroid nodule.

Table 4.
The frequency and malignancy risk of thyroid nodules according to composition and the presence of suspicious US features
Suspicious US featuresa) Overall (n=5,601) Benign nodule (n=4,512) Malignant nodule (n=1,089) Malignancy risk (%) P-value (benign vs. malignant)
Suspicious US features (+) 1,514 803 (53.0) 711 (47.0) 47.0 <0.001
 Purely solid 1,084 454 (41.9) 630 (58.1) 58.1 <0.001
 Minimally cystic 242 192 (79.3) 50 (20.7) 20.7 <0.001
 Partially cystic 188 157 (83.5) 31 (16.5) 16.5 <0.001
Suspicious US features (‒) 4,087 3,709 (90.8) 378 (9.2) 9.2 <0.001
 Purely solid 1,957 1,690 (86.4) 267 (13.6) 13.6 <0.001
 Minimally cystic 1,017 956 (93.0) 61 (6.0) 6.0 <0.001
 Partially cystic 1,113 1,063 (95.5) 50 (4.5) 4.5 <0.001

Values are presented as number (%) unless otherwise indicated.

US, ultrasonography; MCTN, minimally cystic thyroid nodule; PCTN, partially cystic thyroid nodule.

a) Suspicious US features are punctated echogenic foci (microcalcification), nonparallel orientation (taller-than-wide shape), and irregular (spiculated/microlobulated) margin.

The P-values comparing the malignancy risks in the group of nodules with suspicious US features: MCTNs vs. PCTNs (P=0.272) and MCTNs vs. purely solid nodules (P<0.001).

The P-values comparing the malignancy risks in the group of nodules without suspicious US features: MCTNs vs. PCTNs (P=0.118) and MCTNs vs. purely solid nodules (P<0.001).

Table 5.
The frequency and risk of malignancy of thyroid nodules according to composition and nodule size
Composition Overall (n=5,601) Benign nodule (n=4,512) Malignant nodule (n=1,089) Malignancy risk (%) P-valuea)
Purely solid 3,041 2,144 (70.5) 897 (29.5) 29.5 <0.001
 ≤2 cm 2,218 1,511 (68.1) 707 (31.9) 31.9
 >2 cm 823 633 (76.9) 190 (23.1) 23.1
Minimally cystic 1,259 1,148 (91.2) 111 (8.8) 8.8 0.074
 ≤2 cm 669 619 (92.5) 50 (7.5) 7.5
 >2 cm 590 529 (89.7) 61 (10.3) 10.3
Partially cystic 1,301 1,220 (93.8) 81 (6.2) 6.2 0.141
 ≤2 cm 617 585 (94.8) 32 (5.2) 5.2
 >2 cm 684 635 (92.8) 49 (7.2) 7.2

Values are presented as number (%) unless otherwise indicated.

MCTN, minimally cystic thyroid nodule; PCTN, partially cystic thyroid nodule.

a) P-values for comparing the malignancy risk between the large nodule group (>2 cm) and the small nodule group (≤2 cm). The P-values comparing the malignancy risks in the small nodule group (≤2 cm): MCTNs vs. PCTNs (P=0.093) and MCTNs vs. purely solid nodules (P<0.001). The P-values comparing the malignancy risks) in the large nodule group (>2 cm): MCTNs vs. PCTNs (P=0.056) and MCTNs vs. purely solid nodules (P<0.001).

TOOLS
METRICS
7
Web of Science
6
Crossref
8
Scopus
5,005
View
211
Download
Editorial Office
A-304 Mapo Trapalace, 53 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04158, Korea
TEL : +82-2-763-5627   FAX : +82-2-763-6909   E-mail : office@ultrasound.or.kr
About |  Browse Articles |  Current Issue |  For Authors and Reviewers
Copyright © Korean Society of Ultrasound in Medicine.                 Developed in M2PI
Zoom in Close layer