Table 3.
Comparison of conventional ultrasound features, real-time strain elastography scores, and TI-RADS categories between the benign and malignant nodules.
| Features | No. of benign nodules (n = 726) | No. of malignant nodules (n = 799) | P value∗ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composition | <0.001# | ||
| Cystic (n = 15) | 15 (2.1) | 0 | <0.001 |
| Spongiform (n = 16) | 16 (2.2) | 0 | <0.001 |
| Mixed cystic and solid (n = 97) | 71 (9.8) | 26 (3.3) | <0.001 |
| Solid or almost completely solid (n = 1,397) | 624 (85.9) | 773 (96.7) | <0.001 |
| Echogenicity | <0.001# | ||
| Absence (n = 31) | 31 (4.3) | 0 | <0.001 |
| Hyperechoic or isoechogenicity (n = 600) | 498 (68.5) | 102 (12.8) | <0.001 |
| Hyperechogenicity (n = 61) | 61 | 0 | |
| Hypoechogenicity (n = 863) | 193 (26.6) | 670 (83.8) | <0.001 |
| Very hypoechoic (n = 31) | 4 (0.6) | 27 (3.4) | <0.001 |
| Margin | <0.001 | ||
| Smooth (n = 687) | 573 (78.9) | 114 (14.3) | |
| ill-defined (n = 597) | 129 (17.8) | 468 (58.6) | |
| Lobulated or irregular (n = 52) | 11 (1.5) | 41 (5.1) | |
| Extrathyroidal ertension (n = 189) | 13 (1.8) | 176 (22.0) | |
| Shape | <0.001 | ||
| Wider-than-tall (n = 1,101) | 691 (95.2) | 410 (51.3) | |
| Taller -than-wide (n = 424) | 35 (4.9) | 389 (48.7) | |
| Echogenic foci | <0.001# | ||
| None or large comet-tail (n = 766) | 606 (83.5) | 160 (20.0) | <0.001 |
| Punctate echogenic foci (n = 547) | 21 (2.9) | 526 (65.8) | <0.001 |
| Macrocalcifications (n = 122) | 73 (10.1) | 49 (6.1) | |
| Periphera (rim) calcifications (n = 21) | 15 (2.1) | 6 (0.8) | |
| Punctate + macrocalcification (n = 69) | 11 (1.5) | 58 (7.3) | <0.001 |
| ES system of RTE | <0.001 | ||
| Score 0 (n = 31) | 31 (4.3) | 0 (0) | |
| Score 1 (n = 241) | 236 (32.5) | 5 (0.6) | |
| Score 2 (n = 503) | 417 (57.4) | 86 (10.8) | |
| Score 3 (n = 639) | 39 (5.4) | 600 (75.1) | |
| Score 4 (n = 111) | 3 (0.4) | 108 (13.5) | |
| TI-RADS | <0.001 | ||
| 1 (n = 31) | 31 (4.3) | 0 (0) | |
| 2 (n = 162) | 159 (21.9) | 3 (0.4) | |
| 3 (n = 430) | 381 (52.5) | 49 (6.1) | |
| 4 (n = 134) | 72 (9.9) | 62 (7.8) | |
| 5 (n = 768) | 83 (11.4) | 685 (85.7) |
Note. Unless otherwise indicated, the data point is number of nodules, and the number in parentheses is percentage. ∗P value calculated by using the generalized estimating equation analysis. #Fisher exact test.