The Value of Relative Size in the Ultrasound Diagnosis of Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm

Abstract

Purpose

Ultrasonography as the first choice for thyroid nodules is still difficult to distinguish between solid follicular thyroid neoplasm (FTN) and solid nodular goiter (NG). We tried to investigate the value of relative size (M/S, M: the maximum diameter of target nodule, S: the maximum diameter of the largest of the remaining nodules) that may help to differentiate FTN from NG.

Methods

T test and chi-square test were used to retrospectively analyze the differences of the clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics between FTN and NG in 422 cases in our hospital. T test was used to analyze the difference of M/S value in the two kinds of nodules. ROC was used to evaluate the accuracy of M/S value in distinguishing the two.

Results

There were statistically significant differences in age, echogenicity, calcification, peripheral halo and blood supply between the two. The M/S value is not only significantly different in the two kinds of nodules but also can be used as a quantitative indicator to guide ultrasound diagnosis. ROC analysis showed that the cutoff point and AUC of M/S value were 1.94 and 0.709, respectively.

Conclusion

In the ultrasound diagnosis of multiple thyroid nodules, the M/S value can better distinguish FTN and NG. We need to be aware of FTN when the M/S value of the nodule is greater than 2.

Keywords:

• follicular thyroid neoplasm
• nodular goiter
• size
• ultrasonography

Introduction

Follicular thyroid neoplasm (FTN) mainly included follicular adenoma (FA), follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) and their subtypes. It is one of the special pathological types in thyroid tumors. Among them, widely invasive FTC is considered a more aggressive disease for its distant metastasis through hematogenous dissemination, which leads to a poorer prognosis. Even preoperative fine needle aspiration (FNA) is also difficult to distinguish FTC from FA, so early detection of FTN is the most important thing to improve the prognosis.^1–3 Compared with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), FTC only has some descriptive features, such as be larger, with rich blood supply, and with a peripheral halo of uneven thickness, etc, more often lack the suspicious ultrasound features which characterize PTC.^4,5 Single follicular carcinoma is easy to arouse our vigilance, but still a large number of FTC often coexist with benign nodules such as nodular goiter (NG) and lead to misdiagnosis. Since FTN is usually large, it should be prominent in the background of NG. Based on this, we attempted to explore the value of M/S value in ultrasonic diagnosis between FTN and NG.

Materials and Methods

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University ([2015] 084-1).

Patients and Data Collection

This retrospective cohort study included patients who were diagnosed as FTC, FA or nodular goiter after thyroidectomy from January 2012 to May 2020 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. A total of 422 nodules in 422 patients in our hospital were selected as the target nodules. Inclusion criteria for nodules: 1) Multiple nodules were included, with at least one nodule on both sides, and the number of nodules is no less than 3; 2) The ultrasonographic data of thyroid nodules was complete and clear, the location and size of the nodules corresponded to the pathological findings. Exclusion criteria: 1) The nodules were treated with drugs; 2) The nodules were poorly defined boundaries due to diffuse lesions such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, and subacute thyroiditis.

Ultrasound Analysis

The preoperative ultrasonography was performed with a GE Logiq E9 or Toshiba Aplio 500 with a 10–14 MHz linear array probe. The number of the thyroid nodules, location, size, echogenicity, calcification, peripheral halo and blood supply were evaluated by ultrasonography. The M/S value (M: the maximum diameter of target nodule, S: the maximum diameter of the largest of the remaining nodules) was recorded (Figure 1). Each ultrasonography was evaluated by physicians with no less than 5 years of experience, and at least two physicians participated in each evaluation.

Figure 1 (A) The measurement method of M/S value. (B) Nodules in the figure were all NG. (C) The larger nodule in the figure was FTC.

Abbreviations: FTC, follicular thyroid carcinoma; NG, nodular goiter.

Statistical Analysis

SPSS22 was used for statistical analysis. T test and chi-square test were used to retrospectively analyze the differences of the clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics between FTN and NG. T test was used to analyze the difference of M/S value in the two kinds of nodules. ROC was used to evaluate the accuracy of M/S value in distinguishing the two. All the p-values were two-sided, and the significance level was set at 0.05.

Results

Clinical and Ultrasonic Features of FTN and NG

A total of 422 target nodules diagnosed as FTN or NG in our hospital were included in this study. We summarized the distribution of clinical and ultrasonic features in these patients (Figure 2). These characteristics include the patient’s gender, age, location of the nodule, echogenicity, calcification, peripheral halo, blood supply and size. These features show different distribution trends in FTN and NG. We further compared the differences in these clinical and ultrasonic features between FTN and NG (Table 1). The results showed that there were statistically significant differences between FTN and NG in patients’ age, echogenicity, calcification, peripheral halo, blood supply and size. FTN was more likely to be larger than NG, and often had calcification, peripheral halo and rich blood supply.

Table 1 Differential Analysis of Clinical and Ultrasonographic Features Between FTN and NG

Variable	NG (n=147)	FTN (n=275)	t/χ^2	P
Age (mean, year)	50.476	47.564	2.214	0.027
Gender
Female	111	204	0.089	0.765
Male	36	71
Location
Left	72	127	0.301	0.583
Right	75	148
Echogenicity
Hypoechoic	67	107	6.236	0.044
Isoechoic	75	141
Hyperechoic	5	27
Calcification
None	138	235	7.167 ^a	0.019 ^a
Macro	9	35
Micro	0	5
Peripheral halo
Existing	36	201	91.904	0.000
Absent	111	74
Blood supply
Scarce	100	60	86.895	0.000
Rich	47	215
Size (mean, cm)	2.324	3.574	7.236	0.000

Note: ^aFisher’s exact test.

Abbreviations: NG, nodular goiter; FTN, follicular thyroid neoplasm.

Figure 2 The clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics of FTN and NG.

Abbreviations: FTN, follicular thyroid neoplasm; NG, nodular goiter.

FTN can be further subdivided into FTC and FA, so we further analyzed the differences in clinical and ultrasonic characteristics between FTC and FA (Table 2). The results showed that there were statistically significant differences in echogenicity, calcification, blood supply and size between FTC and FA.

Table 2 Differential Analysis of Clinical and Ultrasonographic Features Between FTC and FA

Variable	FTC (n=113)	FA (n=162)	t/χ^2	P
Age (mean, year)	48.487	46.920	0.948	0.344
Gender
Female	79	125	1.826	0.177
Male	34	37
Location
Left	51	76	0.085	0.771
Right	62	86
Echogenicity
Hypoechoic	65	42	31.306	0.000
Isoechoic	36	105
Hyperechoic	12	15
Calcification
None	88	147	9.262 ^a	0.006 ^a
Macro	21	14
Micro	4	1
Peripheral halo
Existing	82	119	0.027	0.870
Absent	31	43
Blood supply
Scarce	8	52	24.428	0.000
Rich	105	110
Size (mean, cm)	3.981	3.291	3.298	0.001

Note: ^aFisher’s exact test.

Abbreviations: FTC, follicular thyroid carcinoma; FA, follicular adenoma.

Differential Analysis of M/S Value Between FTN and NG

Through the observation of 422 target nodules, we found that the distribution of M/S values in FTN and NG showed different trends (Figure 2). Therefore, we further analyzed the difference of M/S values between FTN and NG. Our results showed that the M/S values of FTN were higher than that of NG (Figure 3A, Table 3), and the difference was statistically significant. FTN can be further divided into FTC and FA, so we analyzed it by stratification. However, our results showed that there was no significant difference in M/S value between FTCand FA (Figure 3B, Table 3). Therefore, we speculated that M/S value may have a certain potential value in ultrasonic diagnosis of FTN and NG.

Table 3 Differential Analysis of M/S Values Between FTN (Including FTC and FA) and NG

Variable	NG (n=147)	FTN (n=275)				t2	P2
		FTC (n=113)	FA (n=162)	t1	P1
M/S (mean)	2.873	4.810	5.188	0.659	0.510	4.746	0.000

Notes: t₁ and P₁ are the statistical values of FTC and FA. t₂ and P₂ are the statistical values of FTN (Including FTC and FA) and NG.

Abbreviations: FA, follicular adenoma; FTN, follicular thyroid neoplasm; FTC, follicular thyroid carcinoma; NG, nodular goiter.

Figure 3 (A) Difference of M/S values in FTN and nodular goiter. (B) Difference of M/S values in FTC and FA.

Abbreviations: FA, follicular adenoma; FTN, follicular thyroid neoplasm; FTC, follicular thyroid carcinoma.

The Predictive Value of M/S Values of FTN and NG in Ultrasonic Diagnosis and the Distribution of Them with M/S Values

In order to evaluate the potential value of M/S value in ultrasonic diagnosis of FTN and NG, we drew the ROC based on the distribution of M/S values in FTN and NG (Figure 4A). The optimal cutoff value was 1.94, the sensitivity was 0.756, the specificity was 0.612, and the AUC was 0.709. Therefore, the optimal cutoff value (1.94) could better distinguish FTN from NG.

Figure 4 (A) The predictive value of M/S value in thyroid ultrasonography. (B) Corresponding relationship between two kinds of thyroid nodules with M/S value. (C) The distribution of FTN and NG with M/S values in 422 thyroid target nodules.

Abbreviations: FTN, follicular thyroid neoplasm; NG, nodular goiter.

Here, the M/S values of FTN and NG were divided into High group (greater than 1.94) and Low group (less than 1.94) based on the optimal cutoff value of M/S (1.94). We found that FTN was mostly distributed in the High group, while NG was mostly distributed in the Low group (Figure 4B). Notably, we found that with the increase of M/S value, the probability of thyroid nodules being FTN was higher. On the contrary, with the decrease of M/S value, the possibility of thyroid nodules being NG was higher (Figure 4C). Therefore, the optimal cutoff value (1.94) could better distinguish FTN from NG.

Discussion

FTC originates from the follicular epithelium of thyroid. Though with rare lymph node metastasis,⁶ FTC has a high risk of distant metastasis. The risk of distant metastasis in FTC ranges from a low of 3.0% to almost 30%.⁷ Distant metastasis is closely associated with increased vascular invasion, which also occurred in some patients with capsular invasion alone, leading to a worse prognosis.^8–11 It is difficult to distinguish between FTC and FA before surgery, and the reliability in detecting FTN by several current mainstream ultrasound risk stratification systems were also considered to be in need of further improvement.^12,13 The risk of malignancy with a FNAB reading of FTN (Bethesda IV) is 10–40% and 6–28% with AUS/FLUS (Bethesda III).^14,15 The distinction between benign and malignant FTN still requires complete surgical pathology. FTN lacks the suspicious ultrasound features which characterize PTC, and is very similar to the common non-neoplastic adenomatous hyperplastic nodule. Therefore, it is challenging and important to screen out FTN among the numerous thyroid nodules.

Ultrasound is the most convenient and effective tool for diagnosing thyroid nodules currently. The FTN and the NG groups showed significant differences in echogenicity, calcification, etc. But those differences were descriptive characteristics, which were not enough to make a diagnosis. Moreover, signs such as calcification as a sonographic indicator of FTN remain under debate.⁵ Some studies have reported that nodules with irregular margin and unclear border tend to be malignant,^16,17 but these descriptive features were subject to a certain degree. In our study, the more prominent differences between the FTN group and the NG group were the presence of peripheral halo and the blood supply status of the nodules. Most studies also supported that a peripheral halo of uneven thickness and abundant blood supply were better indicators for distinguishing FTN from NG.¹⁸

In NG, the formation and growth of nodules are mainly caused by the heterogeneity among follicular cells, which show different growth potential when stimulated by TSH. So the natural history of these benign nodules resulted in gradually increasing size. FTN is a kind of neoplasm with the ability of colony-formation, accompanied by molecular genetic changes. Oncogenic changes in FTC are primarily RAS point mutations and PAX8/PPARγ rearrangements.^7,19,20 It is precisely because of the different growth mechanisms leading to the fact that FTN grows faster than NG, and makes FTN appeared more prominent and eye-catching in the background of NG. Based on this principle, we had observed that the most intuitive expression was that FTN tended to appear as “outstanding” nodules, that was, the nodules were significantly larger than the surrounding nodules. In our study, the FTN and the NG groups showed significant difference in M/S value, that was, the M/S values of FTN were higher than that of NG. The FTC and FA groups showed no significant difference in M/S value was considered as the similar pathogenesis of the two. According to the ROC we drew, the optimal cutoff value of M/S was 1.94, and the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis at this time were 75.6% and 61.2%, respectively.

The incidence of FTC is relatively lower than that of PTC, FA and minimally invasive FTC occupy the majority of FTN.²¹ To avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment of thyroid nodules, we considered “the M/S value >2” to be more suitable, as the specificity can be appropriately increased to reduce overdiagnosis. In addition, the value of M/S >2 is simple and convenient for clinical application. Nodules which were predominantly cystic were excluded in our study. Both FTN and NG can have cystic change, which leads to nodules growth in a short time, rather than substantial growth. The M/S value cannot be generalized, of course. For example, if the nodules are spongy or with multiple separated cystic regions accompanied by spots with comet tail sign inside,²² no matter how high the M/S value is, NG is the first consideration. In the same way, even if the nodule does not appear “outstanding”, it is accompanied by some typical features such as a peripheral halo with uneven thickness, FTN is the first consideration.

Conclusion

During the ultrasonography of thyroid nodules, if one of the multiple nodules is significantly larger than other surrounding nodules and with rich blood supply, especially when the M/S is higher than 2, we should beware of the possibility of FTN.

Abbreviations

FA, follicular adenoma; FTN, follicular thyroid neoplasm; FTC, follicular thyroid carcinoma; NG, nodular goiter; PTC, papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Data Sharing Statement

All data used in this study are included within the article.

Ethics Approval and Informed Consent

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University ([2015] 084-1). Due to the study was a retrospective analysis, patient consent to review their medical records was not required by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. All data were anonymized to comply with the provisions of personal data protection legislation. This study adhered to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Author Contributions

All authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; agreed to submit to the current journal; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fujian Medical University Sailing Fund Project (No. 2018QH1085), and the Fujian Medical University Sailing Fund Project (No. 2018QH1086).