Table 1 Comparison of baseline data, US parameters, and laboratory tests for the prediction of thyroid malignancy
Variable | Benign nodule (n = 106) | Malignant nodule (n = 111) | t/χ2 | p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age (year) | 51.90 ± 10.13 | 44.28 ± 9.46 | 5.73 | < 0.001 | |
Gender(male %) | 28(26.42) | 34(30.63) | 0.47 | 0.492 | |
Shape | Wider-than-tall | 92(86.79) | 54(48.65) | 35.84 | < 0.001 |
Taller-than-wide | 14(13.21) | 57(51.35) | |||
Margin | Smooth | 85(80.19) | 25(22.52) | 79.69 | < 0.001 |
Ill-defined | 12(11.32) | 19(17.12) | |||
Lobulated or irregular | 5(4.72) | 54(48.65) | |||
Extrathyroidal extension | 4(3.77) | 13(11.71) | |||
Echogenicity | Anechoic | 0 | 0 | - | < 0.001 |
Hyperechoic or isoechoic | 61(57.55) | 8(7.21) | |||
Hypoechoic | 35(33.02) | 72(64.86) | |||
Very hypoechoic | 10(9.43) | 31(27.93) | |||
Echogenic Foci | Nonecalcification or Large comet-tail artifacts | 84(79.25) | 40(36.04) | 50.36 | < 0.001 |
Macrocalcificatins | 13(12.26) | 19(17.12) | |||
Peripheral (rim) calcifications | 2(1.89) | 1(0.90) | |||
Punctate echogenic foci | 7(6.60) | 51(45.95) | |||
Composition | Cystic or almost completely cystic | 0 | 0 | - | < 0.001 |
Spongiform | 3(2.83) | 0 | |||
Mixed cystic and solid | 30(28.30) | 1(0.90) | |||
Solid or almost completely solid | 73(68.87) | 110(99.10) | |||
SWE | Mean, kPa | 29.37 ± 12.92 | 45.98 ± 26.65 | -5.80 | < 0.001 |
Min, kPa | 23.01 ± 11.45 | 35.38 ± 20.11 | -5.54 | < 0.001 | |
Max, kPa | 35.32 ± 14.64 | 54.49 ± 33.12 | -5.47 | < 0.001 | |
Ratio | 2.79 ± 1.74 | 2.24 ± 1.53 | -2.48 | 0.014 | |
FT3, IU/ml | 4.76 ± 0.67 | 4.85 ± 0.76 | -0.88 | 0.379 | |
FT4, IU/ml | 15.91 ± 2.89 | 16.87 ± 2.90 | -2.47 | 0.014 | |
T3, IU/ml | 1.66 ± 0.31 | 1.68 ± 0.30 | -0.43 | 0.667 | |
T4, IU/ml | 103.00 ± 25.75 | 103.90 ± 20.54 | -0.27 | 0.785 | |
TSH, IU/ml | 3.41 ± 2.59 | 2.85 ± 2.37 | 1.64 | 0.103 |