CT features of medullary thyroid carcinoma

VernacularTitle:甲状腺髓样癌的CT特点
Author: Lin LI ; Shuangmei ZOU ; Xinyi CHEN ; Meng LIN ; Yanfeng ZHAO ; Yong WANG ; Chunwu ZHOU ; Dehong LUO
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: medullary thyroid carcinoma; computed tomography
From: Journal of Practical Radiology 2014;(4):575-579
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Objective To analyze and summarize the CT features of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).Methods 30 patients with MTC proved by surgery and pathology were scanned by CT.And the CT manifestations were analyzed retrospectively.Results In a total of 30 patients,a single lesion in 25 (83.3%)patients and multiple ones in 5 (16.7%)were found with irregular shape in 27 (90.0%),unclear border in 26 (86.7%),heterogenous enhancement with irregular internal hypodensity in 27 (90.0%),cal-cifications in 4 (13.3%)and invasion of trachea in 4 (13.3%).As for the 29 patients underwent the neck surgery ,26 (89.7%) were pathologically confirmed with lymph nodes metastasis.CT showed the metastatic lymph nodes with well-defined border in 1 2 (46.2%)and ill-defined one in 14 (53.8%),calcifications in 5 (19.2%)and heterogenous enhancement with irregular internal hy-podensity in all (100.0%).Conclusion CT features of MTC and metastatic lymph nodes appeared as heterogenous enhancement with irregular internal low attenuation area,which can improve the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis.