Table 4.
Association of sonographic features and functional status. Numbers in brackets are 95% confidence intervals
| Parameter | Number of cold or indeterminate nodules | Number of hot nodules | Odds ratio | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diameter | < 0.004 | |||
| < 15 mm | 471 | 13 (2.9%) | 1 | |
| ≥ 15 mm | 507 | 38 (7.0%) | 2.682 (1.381–5.208) | |
| Composition | 0.670 | |||
| Solid | 471 | 22 (4.5%) | 1 | |
| Mixed | 507 | 29 (5.4%) | 1.139 (0.625–2.076) | |
| Echogenicity | 0.500 | |||
| Iso- or hyperechogenic | 747 | 37 (4.7%) | 1 | |
| Hypoechogenic | 231 | 14 (5.7%) | 1.257 (0.646–2.446) | |
| Shape | 0.715 | |||
| Wider than tall | 950 | 50 (5.0%) | 1 | |
| Taller than wide | 28 | 1 (3.4%) | 0.682 (0.086–5.383) | |
| Margin | 0.572 | |||
| Ill-defined or lobulated | 61 | 2 (3.2%) | 1 | |
| Smooth | 917 | 49 (5.1%) | 1.534 (0.347–6.785) | |
| Hyperechoic foci | 0.493 | |||
| None | 888 | 45 (4.8%) | 1 | |
| Calcifications or comet tails | 90 | 6 (6.2%) | 1.381 (0.548–3.476) |
Statistically significant findings, i.e. p < 0.05, were emphsised in italic