Objective:To investigate the ultrasonographic features and evolution of thyroid shrinking nodules in order to improve the differential diagnosis and management strategy and avoid unnecessary biopsy.Methods:A total of 245 patients with old bleeding of benign thyroid nodules diagnosed via fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) from May 2015 to July 2020 in the southern part of the Shanghai General Hospital Affiliated to the Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University, including 263 nodules. The sonographic parameters such as size, shape, aspect ratio, echo, edge, boundary, periphery, halo, calcification, posterior echo enhancement and posterior acoustic attenuation of nodules were analyzed retrospectively, and the ultrasonic appearances of nodules were classified; 41 nodules from 40 patients, who did ultrasound examinations more than twice and had both complete ultrasonographic data, were compared and then classified in order to explore the evolution rules of the nodules.Results:Two hundred and sixty-three thyroid shrinking nodules in 245 cases were classified into 4 types: "cystic wall shrinkage sign" type(71.48%, 188/263), "carcinoma-like" type (22.05%, 58/263), "inflammation-like" type(3.04%, 8/263) and "undefined atypical solid nodules" type(3.42%, 9/263). Of the 41 consecutive follow-up nodules, 37 cases showed obvious cystic wall shrinkage sign, and 7 of them developed into "carcinoma-like" type and 6 cases into "inflammation-like" type.Conclusions:The ultrasonographic appearance of thyroid shrinking nodules is a dynamic process, which can be divided into 4 types: "cystic wall shrinkage sign" , "carcinoma-like" , "inflammation-like" and "undefined atypical solid nodules" types. The "cystic wall shrinkage sign" type is typical and common. The "cystic wall shrinkage sign" type can develope into the "carcinoma-like" type or the "inflammation-like" type.

Objective:To investigate the malignant potential of histopathological class B3 and B5a lesions by ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (CNB).Methods:Retrospective analysis of the histopathological results of 712 breast lesions that successively underwent CNB process and surgical resection in the Shanghai General Hospital from January 2018 to December 2022, of which 47 lesions were reported as class B3 and 70 lesions as class B5a.Results:CNB identified 47 category B3 lesions, comprising 19 cases of atypical ductal hyperplasia, 17 papillary lesions, 8 phyllodes tumors, and 3 complex sclerosing lesions. Of these cases, surgical pathology was in full agreement with CNB pathology in 27 instances, indicating a concordance rate of 57.4% (27/47) and an inconsistency rate of 42.6% (20/47). Out of the 20 inconsistent cases, 70.0% (14/20) were upgraded based on the findings from the surgical pathology.Specifically, 4 cases of atypical ductal hyperplasia and 2 cases of intraductal papilloma were upgraded to invasive breast cancer (B5b) after surgery. Among the 4 cases with puncture pathology indicating atypical ductal hyperplasia and one complex sclerosing lesion, these five lesions were upgraded to ductal carcinoma in situ (B5a) after surgery. Two puncture pathologies were diagnosed as atypical ductal hyperplasia, and these were upgraded to ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion (B5b) after surgery. One puncture pathology indicated a borderline phyllodes tumor, and this was upgraded to malignant phyllodes tumor (B5b) after surgery. And 30.0% (6/20) resulted in downgrade after surgery, specifically 4 cases of atypical ductal hyperplasia, which were downgraded to breast adenopathy (B2). Of these, 1 puncture pathology was identified as atypical ductal hyperplasia and one as a borderline phyllodes tumor, which were both downgraded to fibroadenoma (B2). Seventy lesions were diagnosed as B5a lesions by CNB pathology, with 28 of them showing complete concurrence with the surgical pathology, a concordance rate of 40.0% (28/70), and an inconsistency rate of 60.0% (42/70). Of the 42 cases with discrepancies, all 42 were upgraded, yielding an upgrading rate of 100% (42/42). Of these, 21 were upgraded to ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion (B5b) and 21 to invasive breast cancer (B5b).Conclusions:Lesions with CNB pathology in categories B3 and B5a have a high rate of postoperative escalation. B3 and B5a lesions should be treated with considerable care, especially atypical ductal hyperplasia, which should be surgically resected, and CNB examination should be performed twice if necessary.