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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Synchronous Triplanar Reconstruction Integrated with Color Doppler Mapping for Precise and Rapid Localization of Thyroid Lesions
Published on: February 9, 2024
Papillary thyroid carcinoma manifested solely as microcalcifications on sonography.
Jin Young Kwak1, Eun-Kyung Kim, Eun Ju Son
1Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-Dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
High-resolution ultrasound effectively detects thyroid carcinomas presenting solely as microcalcifications. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) accurately diagnoses these microcalcifications as thyroid papillary carcinoma.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Thyroid carcinomas can present with subtle sonographic findings, such as microcalcifications without a discernible mass.
- Early and accurate detection is crucial for effective management of thyroid cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of sonography in identifying thyroid carcinomas that manifest only as microcalcifications.
- To determine the diagnostic utility of sonography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in such cases.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 11 cases with sonographic microcalcifications as the sole indicator of thyroid cancer.
- Sonographic detection using real-time, high-resolution ultrasound.
- Sonography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for cytological diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Sonography successfully detected thyroid carcinomas presenting exclusively as microcalcifications in all 11 cases.
- All surgically confirmed cases were diagnosed as thyroid papillary carcinoma.
- Sonography-guided FNAB provided satisfactory diagnostic accuracy for these microcalcifications.
Conclusions:
- Real-time, high-resolution sonography is effective for detecting thyroid carcinomas characterized by microcalcifications without an associated mass.
- The combination of thyroid sonography and sonography-guided FNAB is a valuable diagnostic approach for thyroid microcalcifications.
- This approach aids in the timely diagnosis and management of specific thyroid cancer presentations.
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