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| Value of CT in the differential diagnosis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma and micronodular goiters |
| HAN Zhi-jiang1, CHEN Wen-hui1, SHU Yan-yan2, LAI Xu-feng1, XIANG Jing-jing1 |
| 1. First People’s Hospital of Hangzhou City, Hangzhou 310006, China; 2. Department of Radiology, First People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Xiaoshan Area, Hangzhou 311200, China |
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Abstract Objective: To evaluate the value of CT in the differential diagnosis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC) and micronodular goiters(MNG). Methods: CT findings of 313 micronodules of thyroid in 212 patients(diameter 0.5 to 1.0 cm) were retrospecctively analyzed. All of the patients had pathologic diagnosis, and 143 leisions in 106 patients were PTMC(15 leisions in 8 patients were combined with MNG), and 170 lesions in 106 patients were MNG. Results: There was statistical difference in pathogenetic number, the appearance of lesions, the margin of the lesions on contrast-enhanced CT scan, the discontinous edge of the thyroids and the fine calcification ratio between PTMC and MNG(P＜0.05). However no statistical difference in mixed calcification ratio was found between the two groups(P＞0.05). MNG with adenoma were found in 7 lesions, and 5 of them showed higher density than thyroid on post-contrast CT. Eighteen lesions of PTMC and 41 lesions of MNG were not shown on non-enhanced CT, among which 9 PTMC and 36 MNG were combined with thyroiditis. Conclusions: Single lesions with irregular shape, more indistinct margin of the lesion on post-contrast CT than on non-enhanced CT, discontinous edge of the thyroids, fine calcifications and multiple small lymph nodes around the lesion conduce to the diagnosis of PTMC. Multiple lesions with round or oval shape, more distinct margin of lesions on post-contrast CT than on non-enhanced CT, continous edge of the thyroids conduce to the diagnosis of MNG. High degree of enhancement on post-contrast CT conduces to the diagnosis of adnoma or MNG with adenoma. It should be concerned that thyroiditis may hide PTMC.
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Received: 31 May 2012
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2013, Vol. 24 
