Growth rates of malignant and benign thyroid nodules in an ultrasound follow-up study: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundThyroid nodules are frequently detected by cervical ultrasound examinations. In follow-up studies, malignant as well as benign nodules may exhibit an increase in size.The objective of our investigation was to test whether histologically determined malignant and benign thyroid nodules show differences in growth rates above a defined significance level.MethodsA retrospective ultrasound cohort follow-up study from 4 to 132 months included 26 patients with differentiated carcinomas and 26 patients with adenomas of the thyroid gland. Significance levels were determined by intra- and interobserver variations of volumetric measurements in 25 individuals.ResultsIntra- and interobserver volumetric measurements were highly correlated (r = 0.99 and r = 0.98, respectively), with variations of 28 and 40%, respectively. The growth rates of malignant and benign nodules did not show differences with respect to two sonographic measurements (d = − 0.04, 95%CI(P): 0.41–0.85, P = 0.83). Using shorter increments and multiple measurements, growth rates of malignant nodules revealed significantly higher values (d = 0.16, 95%CI(P): 0.02–0.04, P = 0.039).ConclusionsThe growth rates of benign and malignant thyroid nodules do not appear to differ using two sonographic volumetric measurements. However, due to temporal changes in cellular proliferation and arrest, malignant nodules may exhibit higher growth rates with multiple assessments and shorter increments.

RETRACTED: Ultrasound Parameters of Thyroid Nodules and the Risk of Malignancy: A Retrospective Analysis

“…The nodule diameter was measured sonographically in ultrasound images and the size of the resected nodules has been measured pathologically in transverse, sagittal, and longitudinal dimensions. 17 A univariate following multivariate analysis was performed for identifying malignancy potential with clinical parameters and ultrasound findings. 18 The results were considered significant at 95% of the confidence level.…”