Analysis of ultrasound characteristics of thyroid follicular adenoma and follicular carcinoma

LI Ting; CHEN Lu; LI Yuan; WEI Xiuliang; PANG Kunkun; ZHANG Lulu; ZHANG Feixue

Abstract：Objective To analyze and compare the clinical features and ultrasonographic manifestations of thyroid carcinoma(FTC)and follicular adenoma(FA),and to improve the diagnostic rate of follicular carcinoma.Methods The clinical and ul-trasonic data of 157 patients with thyroid tumor who were admitted and confirmed as FTC or FA by postoperative pathology were retrospectively analyzed.According to the pathological results,the patients were divided into FTC group and FA group,and their clinical data and ultrasonic characteristics were studied.Results There were statistically significant differences in age,nodule shape,edge,halos,echo texture,location of solid components,focal strong echo and blood flow grading between the two groups(P<0.05).Statistically significant variables(P<0.05)from univariate analysis were incorporated into multivariate logistic re-gression model as independent variables,and the results showed that the model was statistically significant(model χ2=88.54,P<0.001,R2=0.60).Among them,blurred edges of nodules,irregular peripheral hypoechoic thick halo sign,central vessel type or mixed type blood flow were closely related to the diagnosis of FTC.Conclusion FTC and FA are very similar in ultra-sonic images,and their ultrasonic characteristics should be fully understood.Fuzzy nodule edge,irregular peripheral hypoechoic thick halo sign,central vessel type or mixed blood flow are important signs in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of FTC.