Chammas MC et al. - In a study to determine predictive value for malignancy of microcalcifications determined by ultrasonography in thyroid nodules, it was suggested that microcalcifications were highly specific for malignancy and were present in 61% of malignant nodules Methods
177 nodules were prospectively studied by ultrasonography and compared with their fine-needle aspirative biopsy
Association between the presence and type of calcification and cytologic findings was verified through the chi-square test or likelihood ratio
Results
30 nodules showed calcification, of which 17 had fine calcifications, 3 had fine and gross calcifications, and 10 had only coarse calcification
7 of 17 fine calcified nodules were malignant on cytology, 8 were benign, 1 was indeterminate, and 1 was suspect for malignancy
Statistical significance was found between the presence of fine calcifications and malignancy and, in the 13 malignant nodule group, 8 had fine calcifications
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