Sonographic And Pathologic Features Of Encapsulated Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas In Comparison With Classical Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas

Background:Thyroid cancer is the most common malignant tumors of the head and neck, and the incidence is increasing. Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common thyroid malignancy, accounting for more than70%of all thyroid cancer. Classic papillary thyroid carcinoma (CPTC) is the most common, accounting for55%to66%of all thyroid papillary carcinoma. The rest were various types of special histologic subtypes of papillary carcinoma. Encapsulated variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (EPTC) is the special histological subtype of papillary thyroid carcinoma, which is characterized by tumor fibrous capsule completely wrapped, and has the characteristic of papillary carcinoma nuclei, about3.4%to14%of papillary thyroid carcinoma subtypes are divided into different ingredients in accordance with the histopathological enveloped classic papillary type (E-CPTC) and envelope follicular (E-FVPTC). Ultrasound is an important cornerstone of the clinical evaluation of thyroid nodules. It also has unique advantages in thyroid tumors qualitative, positioning and quantitative diagnosis. The biology, morphology, and the prognosis is different in different variant pathological types of papillary thyroid carcinoma.Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the sonographic and pathological features of encapsulated papillary thyroid carcinoma (EPTC) and classical papillary thyroid carcinoma (CPTC).Materials and Methods:33EPTC and85CPTC confimed by pathology were enrolled in this study.33EPTC were divided into two groups:21E-CPTC (encapsulated classical papillary thyroid carcinomas) and12E-FVPTC (encapsulated Follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinomas). The sonographic features, pathological features were compared between the three groups.Results:The sonographic features of33EPTC and85CPTC were:E-CPTC (21):The nodules were most commonly solid (90%), ovoid-to-round shape (67%), a taller-than-wide shape (28%), a speculated margin (86%), hypoechoic (19%), marked hypoechogenicity (81%), internal microcalcifications (62%).E-FVPTC (12):The nodules were most commonly solid (84%), ovoid-to-round shape(92%), smooth margin (92%), isoechoic (75%), absence of calcification (100%), hypoechoic halo (75%).CPTC (85):The nodules were most commonly solid (98%), ovoid-to-round shape (65%), a taller-than-wide shape (24%), poorly defined margin (54%), marked hypoechogenicity (78%), internal microcalcifications (60%).Sonographic features of a smooth margin (92%versus14%), hypoechoic halo (75%versus24%), isoechoic (75%versus0) were more frequent in E-FVPTCs than E-CPTCs (P<0.05). Sonographic features of internal microcalcifications (0versus62%) marked hypoechogenicity (0versus81%) were rarer in E-FVPTCs than E-CPTCs (P<0.05).Sonographic features of a smooth margin (92%versus6%), hypoechoic halo (75%versus24%), isoechoic (75%versus4%) were more frequent in E-FVPTCs than CPTCs (P<0.05). Sonographic features of internal microcalcifications (0versus62%), marked hypoechogenicity (0versus78%) were rarer in E-FVPTCs than CPTCs (P<0.05).P<0.05was considered to indicate statistical significance.Sonographic features of an ovoid-to-round shape (92%versus67%), a taller-than-wide shape (8%versus28%) were not significantly different in E-FVPTCs and E-CPTCs.Sonographic features of an ovoid-to-round shape (92%versus65%), a taller-than-wide shape (8%versus24%) were not significantly different in E-FVPTCs and CPTCs. Conclusion:The sonographic features of the E-CPTC and the CPTC were similar, the sonographic features of the E-FVPTC were similar to benign thyroid nodules. The very small part of benign characteristics in Ultrasonographic features of thyroid nodules were thyroid cancer. In addition to the typical ultrasonographic features of papillary thyroid cancer, there are also some special performances.