Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 25, 2026
A Swin Transformer-Based Model for Thyroid Nodule Detection in Ultrasound Images
Published on: April 21, 2023
Nondiagnostic cytological results on ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration: Does the thyroid nodule depth matter?
Jia-Jing Xia1, Meng-Sen Li1, Li Zheng1,2
1Department of Ultrasound, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Objective:
To evaluate whether thyroid nodule depth and other ultrasound features can predict nondiagnostic cytological results on ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration.
Material And Methods:
This retrospective study included 412 thyroid nodules that underwent ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration from 2014 to 2015. The nodules were classified as nondiagnostic and diagnostic by the cytopathological results. Clinical information of the patients (ie., age, sex) and ultrasound features (ie., size, depth, calcification, cystic content, vascularity) of the nodules were recorded and compared between the nondiagnostic group and diagnostic group.
Results:
Age and sex were not significantly different between the nondiagnostic group and diagnostic group (P > 0.05). Nodule depth >15 mm (OR, 7.128; P < 0.001), peripheral rim calcification (OR, 5.725; P = 0.01) and cystic content >50% (OR, 2.995; P = 0.018) were factors for the nondiagnostic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytopathological results. Macrocalcification in the nodule sized 5-10 mm was associated with the nondiagnostic results (P = 0.04). Nodule size and vascularity were not associated with the nondiagnostic results (P > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Nodule depth >15 mm, peripheral rim calcification and cystic content >50% were three independent predictors of the nondiagnostic cytopathological results. Macrocalcification in the nodule sized 5-10 mm was also associated with the nondiagnostic results.
