Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27263038›Full record

ArticleLangenbeck's archives of surgery2016

Ultrasonographic risk factors of malignancy in thyroid nodules.

A Rios, B Torregrosa, J M Rodríguez, D Rodríguez, A Cepero, M D Abellán, N M Torregrosa, A M Hernández, P Parrilla

Abstract readClinical Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Langenbeck's archives of surgery, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 15% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 16 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

A RiosDepartment of Surgery, Pediatrics and Obstetricians, and Gynecology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. arzrios@um.es.
B TorregrosaRadiology Service, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, El Palmar, Murcia Health Service, Murcia, Spain.
J M RodríguezDepartment of Surgery, Pediatrics and Obstetricians, and Gynecology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
D RodríguezRadiology Service, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, El Palmar, Murcia Health Service, Murcia, Spain.
A CeperoRadiology Service, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, El Palmar, Murcia Health Service, Murcia, Spain.
M D AbellánRadiology Service, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, El Palmar, Murcia Health Service, Murcia, Spain.
N M TorregrosaService of General Surgery and of the Digestive System, Santa Lucia University Hospital, Cartagena, Murcia Health Service, Murcia, Spain.
A M HernándezService of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Teaching and Continuous Education Unit, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, El Palmar, Murcia Health Service, Murcia, Spain.
P ParrillaDepartment of Surgery, Pediatrics and Obstetricians, and Gynecology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca · ESUniversidad de Murcia · ESInstituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria · ESSanta Lucía University General Hospital · ES

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionBetween 40 and 50 % of the population will have at least one thyroid nodule, although only 5-8 % will have a malignant one.

objectiveThe objective of this study was to establish the ultrasonographic characteristics which allow us to distinguish benignity from malignancy in thyroid nodules.

methodsIn the study population, inclusion criteria are (1) a single thyroid nodule and (2) multinodular goiter and exclusion criteria are (1) previous thyroid surgery and (2) fine needle aspiration (FNA) in the past month. This study is a double-blind prospective study. The study protocol is as follows: (1) clinical study; (2) ultrasound examination; (3) FNA; and (4) surgery-follow-up. The variables analysed are as follows: a multinodular nodule or goitre; colloid degeneration; morphology; margins; hyperechoic rim; rim thickness; rim morphology; size; angle between the major axis and the skin; echostructure; posterior acoustic findings; calcifications; thick colloid; localization of the intrathyroid nodular tissue; and characteristics in the Doppler scan.

resultsA total of 221 thyroid nodules were analysed. The following ultrasound findings were associated with malignancy (p < 0.05): a nodule with posterior acoustic shadowing; the echotexture of the nodule; intranodular colloid degeneration; nodule margins; nodular morphology; the presence of thick colloid; the angle between the major axis and the skin; characteristics of the intranodular vessels using color Doppler and Doppler energy; and calcifications. In the multivariate analysis, the following factors persisted as predictors of malignancy: the echotexture of the nodule (odds ratio 12.81), microcalcifications (OR 9.05), and chaotic vascularisation in the Doppler energy (OR 43.47).

conclusionsThe high-resolution ultrasound allowed for a more reliable diagnosis of malignancy. The main findings of malignancy were the hypoechogenicity echotexture, microcalcifications, and chaotic intranodular vessels using Doppler energy.

Indexed as

Ultrasonography, Doppler, ColorAdultBiopsy, Fine-NeedleCarcinomaDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesReproducibility of ResultsRisk FactorsThyroid NoduleCalcificationsDopplerMalignancyThyroid carcinomaThyroid noduleUltrasound

Identifiers

PMID27263038
OpenAlexW2417754512

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.