• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.224-230
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• 2004

Background: To determine the various sonographic findings in a papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Materials and Methods: 48 patients with a proven papillary carcinoma of the thyroid were involved. The sonographic features analyzed were the size, shape, content, margin, internal echo, and calcification pattern. Results: Common sonographic features of a papillary carcinoma include the hypoechoic texture (94%), an ill defined margin (81%), a solid nodule (100%), irregular shape (48%), and microcalcifications (35%), or no calcifications (42%). The uncommon features included a hyperechoic or mixed echo texture, cystic elements, a well defined margin, and a coarse or peripheral calcifications. Conclusion: Ill-defined hypoechoic solid nodule with microcalcification is a characteristic ultrasonographic finding of a thyroid papillary carcinoma.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8613-8616
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• 2014

Background: The diagnostic approach to thyroid nodules involves ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB). We especially aimed to evaluate the contribution and the place of US-FNAB in preoperative evaluation of the malignant cases and draw attention to discordant cases diagnosed with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Materials and Methods: A total of 276 cases were retrospectively reviewed who were subsequently diagnosed with a malignancy and who underwent US-FNAB. Results: Some 45 were found to have previously undergone the US-FNAB procedure. Of the patients in whom the surgical specimen was diagnosed with a malignancy, 21 (46.7%) were diagnosed as malignant or suspicious for malignancy, and 24 (53.3%) were concluded as benign or insufficient for diagnosis. Patients with the diagnosis of PTMC outnumbering the others was a striking finding (11 cases, 24%). Conclusions: We suggest performing repeat aspiration biopsy considering sampling errors in cases where inconsistency exists between clinical findings and cytological results in thyroid nodules smaller than 10 mm in diameter and with suspicious findings on ultrasonography.

• International journal of thyroidology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.182-188
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• 2018

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) with ultrasonography is considered a minimally invasive and safe procedure. Complications of it are infrequent and occur immediately or within a few days after FNA. Such complications may occur mainly in patients with underlying problems. We here report a rare case of thyroid cystic nodule infection occurring 1 month after FNA in an immunocompetent patient and serial sonographic findings in this patient. A 33-year-old woman with a cystic nodule including partially isoechoic solid areas on the right thyroid gland complained of difficulty swallowing and painful sensations in the right neck 1 month after FNA. On follow-up examination, the cystic nodule and perithyroidal soft tissue were suspicious of infection. The possibility of infection after FNA should be considered even if the patient is immunocompetent in order to prompt evaluation and immediate management with empirical antibiotic therapy to avoid life-threatening complications.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.947-955
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• 2019

Degenerating nodules (DNs), which primarily manifest as benign thyroid nodules, are one of the main causes of discordance in ultrasonography (US) and cytological assessments. Intranodular hemorrhage is one of the mechanisms contributing to discordant nodules, and an impaired blood supply may explain further DN shrinkage and infarction. The surgical specimens can be divided into acute and chronic stages based on the histological changes, which usually mimic the US features of malignant tumors. Serial US follow-up should be recommended instead of other unnecessary procedures. However, repeated fine-needle aspiration, diagnostic surgery, or core-needle biopsy may still be necessary for indeterminable or highly suspicious DNs.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.183-187
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• 2006

Thyroid hemiagenesis is a very rare congenital anomaly in which one thyroid lobe fails to develop. The cause of thyroid hemiagenesis is still unknown. The true prevalence of thyroid hemiagenesis is not known, but it is estimated to be from 0.05% to 0.2% in normal children. Thyroid hemiagenesis is common in female with the left lobe being absent. The common disease in the remaining lobe is hyperthyroidism, benign adenoma, a toxic multinodular goiter, chronic thyroiditis, primary myxedema, and rarely carcinoma. Tc-99m pertechnate scintigraphy, ultrasonography and computerized tomography can be used to confirm this anomaly. Here we report three cases with left lobe agenesis. Two of them were euthyroid state while the other hypothyroid patient had a ectopic lingual thyroid.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.17
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• pp.7449-7452
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• 2014

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation of contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic (CEUS) features with microvessel density (MVD) in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). Materials and Methods: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) was performed in 62 patients (17 men and 45 women) with PTC. Tomtec software was applied to analyze the time intensity curve of CEUS. Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the level of MVD in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Then the relationship between quantitative feature and the level of MVD was analyzed using SPSS 16.0 software. Results: The mean peak intensity of PTC tissues was lower than that of peripheral thyroid parenchyma ($61.9{\pm}11.8%$ vs 100%, p<0.05). The MVDs of CD34 and CD31 antibodies staining were $38.0{\pm}6.1$ and $37.9{\pm}5.1$ respectively in 62 PTC samples. A significantly positive correlation was observed between peak intensity and MVD in PTC tissues ($P_{CD34}$<0.01, $r_{CD34}$=0.838, $P_{CD31}$<0.01, $r_{CD31}$=0.837). Conclusions: The peak intensity in CEUS could reflect the MVD in PTC tissues. Therefore, quantification of CEUS seems to be helpful for assessment of MVD in PTC tissues.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.161-164
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• 2007

Thyroid hemiagenesis is a rare anomaly, which is the result of failure of embryologic development of a lobe of thyroid gland. It is more frequently found in the left lobe and in female patients. We, herein, report an extremely rare case of thyroid hemiagenesis associated with papillary thyroid carcinoma. A 69-year-old female presented with an incidentally discovered thyroid nodule in the right thyroid during a routine medical check-up. Ultrasonography(US) and computed tomography(CT) disclosed $0.7{\times}0.5cm\;and\;2.8{\times}2.2cm$ sized nodules in the right thyroid. The left thyroid, however, was not seen in the imaging studies of US and CT. Fine-needle aspiration of the small and large nodules showed papillary thyroid carcinoma and adenomatous hyperplasia, respectively. The patient underwent a right total thyroidectomy with central compartment node dissection. The operative findings and histologic examination confirmed the absence of the left thyroid associated with papillary thyroid carcinoma and ademonatous hyperplasia of the right thyroid.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.3
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• pp.719-725
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• 2020

Metastases to the thyroid gland have rarely been reported in clinical settings, and the thyroid gland is an uncommon site for breast carcinoma metastasis. We report a case of a 64-year-old breast cancer patient diagnosed with metastatic breast carcinoma in the thyroid gland after performing ultrasonography (US)-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) and subsequent total thyroidectomy. On US, the thyroid lesion appeared to be mildly enlarged with multiple internal hypoechoic lines and a few microcalcifications without mass formation. Under US-guidance, CNB was performed by targeting the area with microcalcifications and subsequently diagnosed as metastatic breast carcinoma. Total thyroidectomy revealed that the patient had metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast with lymphatic spread involving both lobes and the isthmus of the thyroid gland. Although the thyroid gland is an uncommon metastatic site, the unusual features of thyroid metastasis can be observed on US; thus, US-guided CNB effectively aids the diagnosis of thyroid metastasis.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2024

Objective: To investigate the association of ultrasound (US) features of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) with tumor invasiveness and prognosis based on the World Health Organization (WHO) classification and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 54 surgically confirmed FTC patients with US images and TERT promoter mutations (41 females and 13 males; median age [interquartile range], 40 years [30-51 years]). The WHO classification consisted of minimally invasive (MI), encapsulated angioinvasive (EA), and widely invasive (WI) FTCs. Alternative classifications included Group 1 (MI-FTC and EA-FTC with wild type TERT), Group 2 (WI-FTC with wild type TERT), and Group 3 (EA-FTC and WI-FTC with mutant TERT). Each nodule was categorized according to the US patterns of the Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (K-TIRADS) and American College of Radiology-TIRADS (ACR-TIRADS). The Jonckheere-Terpstra and Cochran-Armitage tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Among 54 patients, 29 (53.7%) had MI-FTC, 16 (29.6%) had EA-FTC, and nine (16.7%) had WI-FTC. In both the classifications, lobulation, irregular margins, and final assessment categories showed significant differences (all Ps ≤ 0.04). Furthermore, the incidences of lobulation, irregular margin, and high suspicion category tended to increase with increasing tumor invasiveness and worse prognosis (all Ps for trend ≤ 0.006). In the WHO groups, hypoechogenicity differed significantly among the groups (P = 0.01) and tended to increase in proportion as tumor invasiveness increased (P for trend = 0.02). In the alternative group, punctate echogenic foci were associated with prognosis (P = 0.03, P for trend = 0.03). Conclusion: Increasing tumor invasiveness and worsening prognosis in FTC based on the WHO classification and TERT promoter mutation results were positively correlated with US features that indicate malignant probability according to both K-TIRADS and ACR-TIRADS.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.286-287
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• 2001

A 44 year-old male patient was undergoing diagnosis and therapy for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML, M2). On physical examination a thyroid mass was palpated in the left lower lobe. He had palpitation and intolerance to heat. Thyroid function tests revealed hyperthyroidism; T3: 150ng/dl (N:60-90), fT4: 2.26 ng/dl (N:0.70-1.80), TSH: 0.01 ulU/ml (N:0.25-5.00). Ultrasonography demonstrated a hypoechoic mass with scattered calcifications measuring 2.55 2.03 3.64 cm in size. F-18 FDG camera-based PET scan performed as a follow-up study of AML revealed a focal increased uptake in the left neck, where an autonomous nodule was detected on Tc-99m thyroid scan. After the diagnosis of toxic autonomous nodule, Goetz disease, he underwent surgical nodulectomy. Microscopically, the nodule contained follicular proliferation with degenerative change but without evidence of thyroid carcinoma. Focal uptake in autonomous thyroid nodules is due to increased glycolysis within the nodules.