Thyroid calcifications: a pictorial essay

J Clin Ultrasound. 2016 May;44(4):245-51. doi: 10.1002/jcu.22345. Epub 2016 Feb 18.

Abstract

Incidental diagnosis of thyroid nodules is very common on adult neck ultrasonography examination. Thyroid calcifications are encountered in benign thyroid nodules and goiters as well as in thyroid malignancy. Depiction and characterization of such calcifications within a thyroid nodule may be a key element in the thyroid nodule diagnosis algorithm. The goal of this paper is to display typical radio-pathological correlations of various thyroid pathologies of benign and malignant conditions in which the calcification type diagnosis can play a key role in the final diagnosis of the thyroid nodule.

Keywords: Thyroid cancer; calcifications; macrocalcifications; microcalcifications; ultrasonography.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle
  • Calcinosis / diagnosis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Thyroid Gland / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ultrasonography