Table 1. Clinical features of the study population and basic characteristics of the thyroid nodules.
| Parameter | Benign nodules (n) | Malignant nodules (n) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. of patients | 198 | 247 | |
| No. of nodules | 205 | 262 | |
| Age (years), mean ± SD | 48±13 | 45±13 | 0.005 |
| Sex, n (%) | 0.072 | ||
| Male | 43 (21.0) | 74 (28.2) | |
| Female | 162 (79.0) | 188 (71.8) | |
| Nodule size, n (%) | 0.002 | ||
| Size ≤1 cm | 69 (33.7) | 79 (30.2) | |
| Size >1 and ≤4 cm | 109 (53.2) | 170 (64.9) | |
| Size >4 cm | 27 (13.2) | 13 (5.0) | |
| Echogenicity on US, n (%) | <0.001 | ||
| Hyper/isoechoic | 81 (39.5) | 12 (4.6) | |
| Hypoechoic | 121 (59.0) | 247 (94.3) | |
| Highly hypoechoic | 3 (1.5) | 3 (1.1) | |
| Shape on US, n (%) | <0.001 | ||
| Wider than taller | 166 (81.0) | 128 (48.9) | |
| Taller than wide | 39 (19.0) | 134 (51.1) | |
| Margin on US, n (%) | <0.001 | ||
| Smooth or ill-defined | 194 (94.6) | 170 (64.9) | |
| Irregular or lobulated | 11 (5.4) | 92 (35.1) | |
| Echogenic foci on US, n (%) | <0.001 | ||
| No calcification | 132 (64.4) | 38 (14.5) | |
| Macrocalcification | 38 (18.5) | 26 (9.9) | |
| Rim calcification | 3 (1.5) | 3 (1.1) | |
| Punctate echogenic | 32 (15.6) | 195 (74.5) | |
| Extrathyroidal extension on US, n (%) | <0.001 | ||
| Absent | 202 (98.5) | 198 (75.6) | |
| Present | 3 (1.5) | 64 (24.4) | |
| Enhancement direction on CEUS, n (%) | <0.001 | ||
| Scattered | 44 (21.5) | 14 (5.3) | |
| Centripetal/centrifugal | 161 (78.5) | 248 (94.7) | |
| Peak intensity on CEUS, n (%) | <0.001 | ||
| No/isoenhancement | 115 (56.1) | 18 (6.9) | |
| Hypoenhancement | 54 (26.3) | 224 (85.5) | |
| Hyperenhancement | 36 (17.6) | 20 (7.6) | |
| Ring enhancement on CEUS, n (%) | <0.001 | ||
| Absent | 118 (57.6) | 246 (93.9) | |
| Present | 87 (42.4) | 16 (6.1) | |
| Composition on CEUS, n (%) | <0.001 | ||
| Nonsolid | 20 (9.8) | 3 (1.1) | |
| Solid | 185 (90.2) | 259 (98.9) |
SD, standard deviation; US, ultrasound; CEUS, contrast-enhanced ultrasound.