Table 2 Patients and ultrasound findings of papillary thyroid carcinoma (n = 247)
Characteristics, n (%) | NLNM (n = 152) | CLNM (n = 47) | LLNM (n = 48) | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Shape | ||||
 Regular | 45 (29.6) | 9 (19.2) | 12 (25.0) | 0.351 |
 Irregular | 107 (70.4) | 38 (80.9) | 36 (75.0) |  |
Margin | ||||
 Smooth | 9 (5.8) | 1 (2.1) | 3 (6.3) | 0.825f |
 Non-smooth | 143 (94.2) | 46 (97.9) | 45 (93.8) |  |
Aspect ratio | ||||
  < 1 | 93 (61.2) | 36 (76.6) | 39 (81.3) | 0.013 |
  > 1 | 59 (38.8) | 11 (23.4) | 9 (18.7) |  |
Calcification | ||||
 Absent | 35 (22.9) | 8 (17.0) | 6 (12.5) | 0.240f |
 Macrocalcification | 102 (68.0) | 37 (78.7) | 35 (72.9) |  |
 Microcalcification | 14 (9.1) | 2 (4.3) | 7 (14.6) |  |
Extension toward the capsule | ||||
 0 | 42 (27.6) | 9 (19.2) | 3 (6.3) | < 0.001f |
  < 25% | 43 (28.3) | 13 (27.7) | 7 (14.6) |  |
 25–50% | 55 (36.2) | 16 (34.0) | 21 (43.8) |  |
  > 50% | 12 (7.9) | 9 (19.1) | 17 (35.4) |  |
Echo | ||||
 Isoechoic | 2 (1.3) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.943f |
 Hypoechoic | 142 (93.4) | 45 (95.7) | 42 (87.5) |  |
 Markedly hypoechoic | 8 (5.3) | 2 (4.3) | 6 (12.5) |  |
Internal structure | ||||
 Solid | 150 (98.7) | 46 (97.9) | 48 (100.0) | 0.640f |
 Mixed solid-cystic | 2 (1.3) | 1 (2.1) | 0 (0) |  |