CT feature of microcarcinoma of thyroid

VernacularTitle:微小甲状腺癌的CT特点
Author: Zhijiang HAN ; Wenhui CHEN ; Jian ZHOU ; Xufeng LAI ; Yanyan. SHU
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Thyroid neoplasms; Tomography,X-ray computed
From: Chinese Journal of Radiology 2012;46(2):135-138
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Objective To evaluate the imaging feature of microcarcinoma of thyroid with CT.Methods CT findings of 50 lesions in 47 patients with microcarcinoma of thyroid ( dimeter,0.5 to 1.0 cm) were retrospectively analyzed.All of the patients had pathological diagnosis.Results Of the 50 lesions,38 lesions showed homogeneous low density on non-enhanced CT and various degree of enhancement on postcontrast CT. Thirty-three lesions showed discontinuous edge of the thyroids on non-enhanced CT. The boundary of 30 lesions became unclear on post-contrast CT relative to non-enhanced CT and the extension of low density of lesions decreased. Theshape of 31 lesions were irregular. Fifteen lesions showed calcifications,with granular calcifications in 13 lesions.Ten lesions were complicated with thyroiditis.Conclusions Irregular shape,discontinuous edge of the thyroids,the shrinkage of low density of lesions on post-contrast CT relative to non-enhanced CT,granular calcifications and multiple small lymph node around lesions indicate the diagnosis of microcarcinoma of the thyroid.It should be noted that thyroiditis can cover up microcarcinoma of thyroid.