High frequency ultrasound features and pathological characteristics of medullary thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

To study high-frequency ultrasound features and pathological characteristics of medullary thyroid carcinoma (medullary thyroid carcinoma, MTC) with the purpose to improve the diagnostic accuracy of this disease. The clinical data of 20 cases of patients with MTC confirmed by the clinical surgery were retrospectively analyzed. And the high frequency ultrasound features were analyzed and compared with the pathological characteristics. There were 16 cases with tumor invasion into one side of the thyroid gland; 17 cases with tumor in the middle-upper pole of the thyroid gland. And 8 cases was detected with uneven echo of high frequency ultrasound appearance and pathological manifestations of cystic degeneration to necrosis seen under the light microscope or normal thyroid tissue within part of the lump. 16 cases was tested with even echo of high frequency ultrasound appearance, and tumor cells were formed in the solid and block-like shape under the light microscope. And 18 cases were manifested with low echo, with proliferation of fibrous tissue within the intercellular substance under the light microscope. 18 cases could be seen the calcification points and often amyloid-like content deposited in the intercellular substance seen under the light microscope. In addition, the pathological manifestations of the 8 cases combined with lymph node metastasis were the “lash tumor” of the metastatic lymph nodes and primary tumor. MTC was commonly located in the middle-upper region of the thyroid gland and in one leaf of the thyroid gland, combined with lymph node metastasis. The high frequency ultrasound appearance was the even low-echo tumor in round or quasi-circular shape, with obscure boundary and often combined with rough calcification. High frequency ultrasound could be used as the prior physical diagnostic method for medullary thyroid carcinoma.