Diagnostic value of ultrasonography in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Methods Ninety patients with thyroid papillary microcarcinoma treated in our hospital from January 2017 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.The ultrasonography and postoperative pathological examination were performed in the ninety patients.The ultrasonographic diagnoses were confirmed by the results of postoperative pathological examination.The results of ultrasonography and pathological examination were compared, and the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound diagnosis were analyzed. Results A total of 90 patients were diagnosed as thyroid papillary microcarcinoma by ultrasound examination, of whom 83 cases with solid hypoechoic nodules, 75 cases with irregular shape and unclear boundary, and 68 cases with an upright olive pit(aspect ratio >1)in the section of nodules, 60 cases with partial sand granules, 67 cases with type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ blood flow signals, and 33 cases with metastatic lymph nodes.The results of ultrasonography showed that the proportions of patients with irregular shape, marginal roughness, and aspect ratio >1, hypoechoic nodules, cervical lymph node enlargement and type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ blood flow signals were statistically significant higher in patients with malignant lesions than in patients with benign lesions(χ2=27.833, 17.973, 9.419, 6.195, 5.600 and 9.680, P=0.000, 0.000, 0.002, 0.013, 0.018 and 0.002, respectively). The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound diagnosis for benign lesions were 78.9%(71/90), 81.6%(40/49), and 75.6%(31/41). Conclusions The ultrasonography has a higher accuracy, sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.Therefore, it can be used as a conventional diagnostic method for thyroid papillary carcinoma. Key words: Thyroid neoplasms; Papilloma; Ultrasonography