Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2012) 29 P1709

ICEECE2012 Poster Presentations Thyroid (non-cancer) (188 abstracts)

Evaluation of the cytopathologic findings of the thyroid nodules which include macrocalcification

D. Arpaci 1 , D. Ozdemir 1 , N. Cuhaci 1 , A. Dirikoc 1 , A. Kilicyazgan 1 , G. Guler 2 , R. Ersoy 2 & B. Cakir 2


1Ankara Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey; 2Faculty of Medicine, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey.


Aim: In our study, we aimed to evaluate the cytologic findings of the thyroid nodules, in which macrocalcification is determined with ultrasonography.

Method: We evaluated retrospectively 907 nodules of 269 patients, who have nodular or multinodular goiter and have macrocalcification at least in one nodule. The same patients’ nodules that don’t have macrocalcification are taken into the control group. Patient’s thyroid function tests, ultrasonographic features and cytologic results of the nodules were evaluated. Cytologic findings are classified as benign, non-diagnostic, suspected and malign.

Results: 79.9% of the patients were female, 20.1% were male. Macrocalcification was positive in 420 nodules (Group 1A: peripheral macrocalcification (n=53), Group 1B: macrocalcification was intranodular (n=367). In Group 2 (n=487) no macrocalcification was found. Mean nodule size in group 1A, 1B, 2 was respectively 12.94±6.26, 25.50±14.27 and 15.72±7.53 mm (P<0.001). Compared the ultrasonographic features of Groups 1 and 2, peripheral irregularity and presence of halo were similar. In group1 microcalcification was positive in the 61.4% of nodules, whereas it was 17.5% in Group 2 (P<0.001). Solid nodule ratio was 11.7% in Group 1 and 49.9% in Group 2 (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Malign cytology was similar in the nodules, which have macrocalcification or not. In the nodules with peripheral calcification, high ratio of suspected cytology can demonstrate that macrocalcification is associated with malignacy, contrast to the usual opinion. Therefore, we think that, presence of macrocalcification does not always regard as benign nodule.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.

Volume 29

15th International & 14th European Congress of Endocrinology

European Society of Endocrinology 

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