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

Figures & data

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.