AUTHOR=Peng Qinghai , Zhang Qi , Chen Sijie , Niu Chengcheng 

TITLE=Petal-Like Calcifications in Thyroid Nodules on Ultrasonography: A Rare Morphologic Characteristic of Calcification Associated With Aggressive Biological Behavior

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2020.00271

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2020.00271

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=<p>This study investigated a rare ultrasonographically detected thyroid petal-like calcification and its relationship with thyroid carcinoma and biological behavior. We described the clinical and ultrasonographical features of thyroid nodules with petal-like calcifications in 18 patients undergoing thyroid surgery and cervical lymph node dissection. All of the thyroid nodules with petal-like calcifications were papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs). Of the 18 patients, 13 (72.2%) had cervical central lymph node metastasis, and five (27.8%) had cervical lateral lymph node metastasis. Petal-like calcifications occurred in malignant thyroid nodules with a high incidence of lymph node metastasis, which may be a specific ultrasonographic feature associated with the aggressive biological behavior of PTC.</p>