Ultrasonic signs | Malignant nodules (n=519) | Benign nodules (n=230) | OR | P value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Composition | ||||
Cystic or almost completely cystic or spongiform | 1 | 16 | 0.03 | 0.001f |
Mixed cystic and solid | 11 | 70 | 0.05 | |
Solid or almost completely solid | 507 | 144 | 25.23 | |
Echogenicity | ||||
Anechoic | 1 | 23 | 0.02 | 0.001f |
Hyperechoic or isoechoic | 18 | 90 | 0.06 | |
Hypoechoic | 438 | 107 | 6.22 | |
Very hypoechoic | 62 | 10 | 2.98 | |
Shape | ||||
Wider than tall | 285 | 202 | 0.17 | 0.001b |
Taller than wide | 234 | 28 | 5.92 | |
Margin | ||||
Smooth or III-defined | 53 | 146 | 0.07 | NA |
Lobulated or Irregular | 409 | 84 | 6.46 | |
Extra-thyroidal extension | 57 | 0 | 1.12 | |
Echogenic Foci | ||||
None or large comet-tail artifacts | 213 | 185 | 0.17 | 0.001f |
Macrocalcifications | 48 | 22 | 0.96 | |
Peripheral calcifications | 3 | 1 | 1.33 | |
Punctate echogenic foci | 255 | 22 | 9.13 |