Clinical and Sonographic Features of Noninvasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm With Papillary-Like Nuclear Features: A Retrospective Study

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to investigate the clinical and sonographic features of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTPs) as compared with classical papillary thyroid carcinoma (cPTC), follicular adenoma (FA), and follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC). A total of 178 patients were enrolled in this study. The clinical characteristics and sonographic features of thyroid nodules were compared between NIFTP and cPTC or FA/FTC. All nodules were reclassified according to the Thyroid Ultrasound Imaging Reporting and Data System and American Thyroid Association guidelines classification. The mean size of NIFTP was 29.91 ± 14.71 mm, which was larger than that of cPTC ( P = 0.000). Significant difference was found in lymph node metastases between NIFTP and cPTC ( P = 0.000). Most NIFTPs showed solid composition, hypoechoic echogenicity, smooth margin, wider than tall shape, none echogenic foci, absence of halo, and perinodular vascularity, which were similar with FA and FTC. Compared with NIFTP, hypoechoic and very hypoechoic, taller than wide, irregular margin, punctate echogenic foci, absence of halo, and low vascularity were more commonly observed in cPTC. There were statistical differences both in American College of Radiology Thyroid Ultrasound Imaging Reporting and Data System and in American Thyroid Association classification between NIFTP and cPTC ( P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between NIFTP and FTC/FA ( P > 0.05). The ultrasonographic characteristics of NIFTP were obviously different from cPTC but overlapped with FTC and FA. Ultrasound could help increase preoperative attention of NIFTP in an appropriate clinical setting, which may lead to a more conservative treatment approach.