Comparison between echo-color Doppler sonography features and angioarchitecture of thyroid nodules

This study compared echo-color Doppler sonography features of thyroid nodules with the 3-dimensional reconstruction to find parameters useful for the preoperative diagnosis. Forty nodules relative to 29 patients were examined with echo-color Doppler before surgery. After histologic diagnosis, blocks were deparaffinized and prepared for 3-dimensional examination using a stereomicroscope. Echo-color Doppler type I nodules (8 nodules) always corresponded to colloid goiter. Type II and III nodules corresponded to colloid goiter with intralesional hemorrhage or were associated with hyperplastic nodules, follicular adenoma, follicular carcinoma minimally invasive, papillary carcinoma, and medullary carcinoma. Of interest was that 9 of 11 follicular lesions were characterized by a large central vessel, which was also evident in echo-color Doppler images. This architectural pattern is not seen in benign nodules or in papillary carcinomas. Comparison with histology suggests that echo-color Doppler images can visualize vessels showing a muscular wall.