Abstract:

Objective To analyse the characteristics of high frequency color Doppler ultrasound images of thyroid papillary microcarcinoma. Methods The clinical data of 57 cases which underwent high frequency color Doppler ultrasound examinations before operation and were confirmed as thyroid papillary microcarcinoma by pathological examinations after operation were collected, the characteristics of ultrasound images were retrospectively described and analysed. Results Among the 57 cases, 52 were diagnosed as thyroid papillary microcarcinoma (cervical lymphadenectasis in 7), 2 were diagnosed as thyroid adenoma and 3 were diagnosed as nodular goiter by ultrasound before operation. The coincidence between ultrasound diagnosis before operation and pathological diagnosis after operation was 91.2%. Sixty-eight nodes with diameter of 4 to 10 mm were found by two dimensional ultrasound, among which 61 (89.7%) presented low echo, 57 (83.8%) had microcalcification, 49 (72.1%) had irregular margin and 45 (66.2%) exhibited irregular morphology. Color Doppler ultrasound revealed small amount of dotted blood flow signal in 55 nodes (80.9%), with no obvious blood flow signal around nodes. Conclusion High frequency color Doppler ultrasound images of thyroid papillary microcarcinoma were characterised by low echo nodes with irregular morphology, irregular margin and microcalcification in nodes, and should be differentiated from thyroid adenoma and nodular goiter.

Key words: thyroid papillary microcarcinoma, high frequency color Doppler ultrasound, low level echo, microcalcification