Diagnostic evaluation of 256-Slice CT in papillary thyroid carcinoma

TU Can; WA NG Jian-hua; DENG Sheng-de; YU Zhi-hai; WA NG Hai-tao; YU Liang

Abstract：Objective To explore the value of 256-slice CT enhancement scanning and MPR for the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma .Methods The CT images of 50 cases with histopathology-proven papillary thyroid carcinoma were ret-rospectively reviewed .All patients were performed CT plan scanning and dual phase enhanced scanning using automatic current selection (ACS) mode .Multiple planar reconstruction (MPR) and window width modulation techniques were used to analyse images .Results The single lesion was detected in 40 cases and multiple lesions in 10 cases .Mass was located in gland superficial parts ,showed round or oval ,homogeneous low density ,and the margin was vague in most cases ;There was calcification in 26 cases ,small granular calcification in 14 cases ,big granular calcification in 7 cases ,mixed cal-cification in 1 case ,incomplete egg-shell calcification in 4 cases ,mulberry-like calcification in 1 case ,halo margin in 4 ca-ses ,broken edge in 10 cases .Most strengthen amplitude was not exceed normal thyroid tissue ,6 were shown insula en-hancement ,and 36 progressive fill ;Lymph noudle metastasis were found in 27 patients including 25 metastatic lymph nou-dles in Ⅵ ,obvious enhancement ,with cystic formations (n=6) ,intra-cystic nodules (n=4) ,and small granular calcifica-tions (n=5) .Conclusion The papillary thyroid carcinoma and metastatic lymph nodes have characteristic CT findings . Using MPR and window width modulation techniques can help for more accutely dignosis .What’s more ,the radiation dose of subject can be effectively reduced by using ACS scanning mode .