Table 2. Characteristic of nondiagnostic nodules.
| Characteristics | Radiologist (n=168) | Surgeon (n=100) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nodule size, cm, n (%) | 0.441 | ||
| <1 | 77 (45.8) | 41 (41.0) | |
| ≥1 | 91 (54.2) | 59 (59.0) | |
| Age ± SD, yr | 52.02±11.59 | 50.06±12.11 | 0.190 |
| Gender, n (%) | 0.484 | ||
| Male | 38 (22.6) | 19 (19.0) | |
| Female | 130 (77.4) | 81 (81.0) | |
| Location, n (%) | 0.902 | ||
| Left | 77 (45.8) | 43 (43.0) | |
| Isthmus | 5 (3.0) | 3 (3.0) | |
| Right | 86 (51.2) | 54 (54.0) | |
| Position, n (%) | 0.076 | ||
| Upper third | 25 (14.9) | 24 (24.0) | |
| Middle third | 95 (56.5) | 57 (57.0) | |
| Lower third | 48 (28.6) | 19 (19.0) | |
| Procedure before FNA, n (%) | 1.000 | ||
| Surgery or CNB | 8 (4.8) | 4 (4.0) | |
| None | 160 (95.2) | 96 (96.0) | |
| Echogenicity, n (%) | 0.625 | ||
| Hypoechoic | 137 (81.5) | 78 (78.0) | |
| Hyper or isoechoic | 8 (4.8) | 4 (4.0) | |
| Mixed | 23 (13.7) | 18 (18.0) | |
| Margin, n (%) | 0.717 | ||
| Regular | 42 (25.0) | 27 (27.0) | |
| Irregular | 126 (75.0) | 73 (73.0) | |
| Calcification, n (%) | 0.607 | ||
| Microcalcification | 82 (48.8) | 43 (43.0) | |
| Coarse | 20 (11.9) | 12 (12.0) | |
| Egg-shall/rim | 6 (3.6) | 2 (2.0) | |
| Absent | 60 (35.7) | 43 (43.0) | |
| Vascularity, n (%) | 0.555 | ||
| Avascular | 30 (17.9) | 19 (19.0) | |
| Peripheric | 48 (28.6) | 34 (34.0) | |
| Central | 90 (53.6) | 47 (47.0) | |
| Shape, n (%) | 0.522 | ||
| Tall > wide | 145 (86.3) | 89 (89.0) | |
| Tall ≤ wide | 23 (13.7) | 11 (11.0) |
SD, standard deviation; FNA, fine needle aspiration; CNB, core needle biopsy.