Differential Profile of Ultrasound Findings Associated with Malignancy in Mixed and Solid Thyroid Nodules in an Elderly Female Population
Table 3
Associations between US features with malignant cytology in mixed and solid nodules.
Echo structure
US feature
Prevalence Benign (%)
Prevalence Malignant (%)
value
Sensitivity
Specificity
LR (CI95)
Posttest probability (%)
Mixed nodules
Hypoechoic ; : 9)
50
56
0.767
0.56
0.50
1.10 (0.60–2.03)
NI
Irregular margins ; : 6)
36
33
0.887
0.33
0.64
0.92 (0.29–2.94)
NI
Microcalcifications ; : 8)
42
50
0.655
0.50
0.58
1.2 (0.57–2.47)
NI
Absence of halo ; : 6)
49
83
0.102
0.83
0.51
1.71 (1.12–2.61)
9.8
Taller than wider ; : 6)
26
50
0.209
0.50
0.74
1.88 (0.80–4.44)
10.7
Solid nodules
Hypoechoic ; : 15)
53
50
0.805
0.50
0.47
0.94 (0.88–0.97)
NI
Irregular margins ; : 11)
36
73
0.015
0.73
0.63
2.00 (1.37–2.93)
11.3
Microcalcifications ; : 13)
39
69
0.029
0.69
0.61
1.79 (1.20–2.67)
10.3
Absence of halo ; : 9)
60
55
0.769
0.55
0.40
0.92 (0.51–1.67)
NI
Taller than wider ; : 8)
40
62
0.211
0.62
0.60
1.55 (0.88–2.72)
9.0
Indeterminate cytology nodules were discarded prior to the analysis. The values in brackets indicate the number of patients with available information for that specific variable and the total cases of malignant cytology. Pretest probability in this population was 0.06. NI: not improved compared to pretest probability. value corresponds to that obtained in the Chi-square test.
