Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39798066›Full record

ArticleEndocrine2025

The value of non-punctate echogenic foci in the ultrasonic diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

Rui Zhang, Xiqian Wang, Ming Xiao, Jie Zhang

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Article in Endocrine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 authors.

Rui Zhang *Department of Ultrasound, Tianjin Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Xiqian Wang *Department of Nephrology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Ming Xiao *Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Jie ZhangDepartment of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China. wxq_bf@163.com.

Funding

Analysis of the Operation and Quality of Specimen Collection in Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy 2024014Observational Study on Polyalcohol Sclerotherapy of Cystic/Cystic-Solid Thyroid Nodules Under Ultrasound Guidance 2024029
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo evaluate the diagnostic value of different subtypes of non-punctate echogenic foci in thyroid malignancy.

methodsRetrospective research of 342 thyroid nodules with calcification was performed. The echogenic foci were divided into punctate echogenic foci (type I) and non-punctate echogenic foci (type II), and type II were further divided into four subtypes: macrocalcification (type IIa), continuous peripheral calcification (type IIb), discontinuous peripheral calcification (type IIc) and isolated calcification (type IId). Postoperative histopathological results were used as the gold standard to evaluate the correlation between non-punctate echogenic foci subtypes and thyroid malignancy.

resultsThe malignant risk of nodules with echogenic foci was type I (82.1%) > type IIa (66.2%) > type IIc (52.9%) > type IId (16.7%) > type IIb (13.9%), P < 0.001. Type I and type IIa echogenic foci were independent risk factors for thyroid cancer (OR = 16.593, 7.785). Solid, hypoechogenicity/marked hypoechogenicity and a single lesion in a unilateral thyroid lobe were independently associated with malignant thyroid nodules with macrocalcification(OR = 6.825, 40.042, 5.201). Irregular margins and uneven calcification thickness were independent factors for malignant thyroid nodules with peripheral calcification (OR = 5.676, 2.750).

conclusionType IIa echogenic foci could independently predict thyroid malignancy. The diagnostic value of non-punctate echogenic foci depended on the differentiated combination of ultrasound characteristics. Type IIa nodules with solid composition, irregular margins, and a single lesion in a unilateral thyroid lobe implied a higher risk of malignancy; peripheral calcified nodules with irregular margins and uneven calcification thickness suggested an increased risk of malignancy.

Indexed as

Thyroid GlandThyroid NeoplasmsThyroid NoduleAdultAgedCalcinosisFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesUltrasonographyYoung AdultMacrocalcificationMalignancy riskPeripheral calcificationPunctate echogenic fociThyroid noduleUltrasonography

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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.