Table 3. Comparison between nodules (n=113) stratified by size (<4 vs. ≥4 cm).
| Variables | Size (cm)† | <4 cm (n=74)‡ | ≥4 cm (n=39)‡ | Effect size (95% CI) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 1.74 (0.54–5.6) | 0.36 | |||
| <55 | 3.4±2.3 | 67 (90.5) | 33 (84.6) | ||
| ≥55 | 3.7±2.4 | 7 (9.5) | 6 (15.4) | ||
| Gender | 0.86 (0.35–2.21) | 0.81 | |||
| Male | 3.2±1.9 | 17 (23.0) | 10 (25.6) | ||
| Female | 3.4±2.4 | 57 (77.0) | 29 (74.4) | ||
| Pathology | 0.77 (0.35–1.68) | 0.55 | |||
| Benign | 3.5±2.1 | 37 (50.0) | 22 (56.4) | ||
| Malignant | 3.4±2.5 | 37 (50.0) | 17 (43.6) | ||
| TSH (mIU/L)^ | 0.36§ (0.15–0.88) | 0.03 | |||
| <1 | 4.5±2.5§ | 13 (18.6) | 15 (38.5) | ||
| ≥1 | 3.2±2.1 | 57 (81.4) | 24 (61.5) | ||
| Presence of thyroiditis | – | 0.54 | |||
| Yes | 1.7±0.07 | 2 (2.7) | 0 | ||
| No | 3.5±2.3 | 72 (97.3) | 39 (100.0) | ||
| Type of surgery | 0.99 (0.41–2.34) | >0.99 | |||
| Total thyroidectomy | 3.6±2.8 | 21 (28.4) | 11 (28.2) | ||
| Thyroid lobectomy | 3.4±2.0 | 53 (71.6) | 28 (71.8) | ||
| US features^ | |||||
| Echogenicity | 0.196 | – | |||
| Hypoechoic | 3.5±2.3 | 39 (54.2) | 19 (52.8) | ||
| Isoechoic | 3.8±2.3 | 9 (12.5) | 9 (25.0) | ||
| Hyperechoic | 2.9±2.2 | 24 (33.3) | 8 (22.2) | ||
| Content | 0.39 | – | |||
| Solid | 2.6±2.3 | 44 (61.1) | 25 (69.4) | ||
| Predominantly solid | 3.3±2.3 | 21 (29.2) | 10 (27.8) | ||
| Predominantly cyst-like | 2.2±1.4 | 7 (9.7) | 1 (2.8) | ||
| Shape | 1.5 (0.69–3.5) | 0.40 | |||
| Ovoid | 3.6±2.5 | 43 (59.7) | 25 (69.4) | ||
| Irregular | 3.1±1.7 | 29 (40.3) | 11 (30.6) | ||
| Echotexture | 0.50 (0.22–1.14) | 0.10 | |||
| Homogenous | 3.7±2.5 | 26 (36.1) | 19 (52.8) | ||
| Heterogenous | 3.2±2.1 | 46 (63.9) | 17 (47.2) | ||
| Margins | 0.53 (0.31–1.16) | – | |||
| Smooth | 3.7±2.5 | 40 (55.6) | 23 (63.9) | ||
| Ill-defined | 3.01±1.8 | 32 (44.4) | 13 (36.1) | ||
| Calcification | 0.64 (0.23–1.81) | 0.46 | |||
| Yes | 2.7±2.0 | 17 (23.6) | 6 (16.7) | ||
| No | 3.6±2.3 | 55 (76.4) | 30 (83.3) | ||
| Vascularity | 0.41 (0.17–0.97) | 0.04 | |||
| Hypervascular | 3.8±2.7§ | 35 (48.6) | 25 (69.4) | ||
| Hypovascular | 2.9±1.5 | 37 (51.4) | 11 (30.6) | ||
| Lymphadenopathy | 2.12 (0.49–9.04) | 0.43 | |||
| Yes | 4.4±2.4 | 4 (5.6) | 4 (11.4) | ||
| No | 3.3±2.3 | 68 (94.4) | 32 (88.9) | ||
| Peripheral halo | 1.5 (0.69–3.54) | 0.31 | |||
| Yes | 3.6±2.3 | 36 (50.0) | 22 (61.1) | ||
| No | 3.2±2.3 | 36 (50.0) | 14 (38.9) |
†, nodule size as a continuous variable, was presented as mean ± standard deviation; ‡, nodule size as a binary variable, was presented as n (%); ^, of 113 patients, only 109 had available TSH levels and only 108 had available US results; §, these P values are estimated by independent t-test, and the mean difference with 95% CI is reported. CI, confidence interval; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone; US, ultrasonography.