Publication:

Macrocalcification in thyroid nodule

Background The thyroid is one of the largest endocrine organs. The prevalence of palpable thyroid nodules increases with age and is 4-7% in a middle-aged population. Objective of present study was to understand if thyroid malignancy is associated with macrocalcification.

Methods 34 cases were with thyroid nodules were evaluated initially with sonography and then with FNAC, the results of which were given on the basis of Bethesda system.

Results On USG, 23 (67.6%) nodules had macrocalcifications, 5 (14.7%) had microcalcifications and 6 (17.6%) had both micro as well as macrocalcifications. Cytology of 23 nodules with macrocalcification were non-diagnostic in 8.7%, benign 73.9%, suspicious for malignancy in 8.7 % and malignant in 8.7%. Only 2 lesions with macrocalcification and 1 with both macro and microcalcification came out to be non-diagnostic. 17 lesions with macrocalification were diagnosed as benign, 2 as suspicious for malignancy and 2 as malignant. While 3 lesions with microcalcification were diagnosed as malignant on FNAC and 2 as benign.

Conclusions Macrocalcification is not a good indicator for malignancy.