Follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: Gray-scale and Doppler sonographic features
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to present the sonographic characteristics of follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) related to different forms of the thyroid nodules, including those without a capsule. Another purpose was to analyze the color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) features of this unique tumor, which have not been intensively studied in previous works.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-two thyroid nodules (male/female: 17/5; mean age±SD: 42±16 years; range: 17-70) diagnosed with FVPTC were included in this study. The sonographic and Doppler features of the nodules were analyzed retrospectively. The intranodular pattern of vascularity was categorized with regard to the presence of perinodular and/or intranodular vascular signals, as well as a “spoke-and-wheel” appearance.
Results: The length of the nodules varied from 6 to 55 mm. Most of nodules were purely solid (77.3%), isoechoic (59.1%) or hypoechoic (31.8%) and had an oval shape (72.7%), well-defined margins (68.2%) and a peripheral hypoechoic halo (68.2%). Thirty-one percent of the nodules had a lobulated shape with microlobulated margins or an irregular configuration with ill-defined margins. Encapsulated FVPTCs had a peripheral hypoechoic halo and well-defined margins, whereas infiltrative cases exhibited the opposite characteristics. No calcification was observed in 72.7% of the nodules. Perinodular and predominantly peripheral intranodular hypervascularity was observed in 14 nodules (66.7%) and was the dominant pattern of vascularity in most of the encapsulated FVPTCs, unlike the infiltrative FVPTCs.
Conclusion: Diagnosis of FVPTC should always be considered when large thyroid nodules with predominantly solid echo-texture and other sonographic features that suggest benignity and nodular hypervascularity are observe.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Health Care Administration
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Tülay Öztürk
*
Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Radyoloji AD
0000-0002-1567-3385
Türkiye
Süha Süreyya Özbek
Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Radyoloji AD
0000-0002-3351-4150
Türkiye
Gülgün Kavukçu
Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Radyoloji AD
0000-0001-6866-7256
Türkiye
Yeşim Ertan
Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Patoloji AD
0000-0002-4522-0774
Türkiye
Ali Veral
Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Patoloji AD
0000-0003-0343-9978
Türkiye
Deniz Nart
Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Patoloji AD
0000-0002-8100-6978
Türkiye
Recep Gökhan İçöz
Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Genel Cerrahi AD
0000-0002-4039-0088
Türkiye
Mahir Akyıldız
Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Genel Cerrahi AD
0000-0001-5786-1483
Türkiye
Özer Makay
Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Genel Cerrahi AD
0000-0002-6660-6748
Türkiye
Müge Tunçyürek
Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Patoloji AD
Türkiye
Publication Date
September 1, 2017
Submission Date
July 24, 2016
Acceptance Date
September 1, 2016
Published in Issue
Year 2017 Volume: 56 Number: 3