Table 1 Conventional US characteristics of thyroid nodules.

From: Influence of lesion size on shear wave elastography in the diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules

Characteristics

Benign

Malignant

Nodules (n = 356)

84

272

Maximum diameter

≤ 1 cm

44

176

1–2 cm

23

68

≥ 2 cm

17

28

Location

Superior pole

7

56

Middle

53

124

Inferior pole

24

96

Aspect ratio

> 1

6

166

< 1

78

106

Echogenicity

Hypoechoic

29

258

Isoechoic or Mixed echoic

55

14

Calcification

None

69

124

Microcalcification

10

120

Macrocalcification

5

28

Color Doppler character*

Absent vascularity

32

137

Minimal vascularity

17

82

Moderate vascularity

20

35

Marked vascularity

15

18

  1. *Color Doppler character was graded to be absent, minimal, moderate and marked. Absent vascularity: no vessel; minimal vascularity: point strip blood flow at 1–2 points, and the diameter of vessel was less than 1 mm; moderate vascularity: one vessel which diameter exceeded the radius of the lesion, or 3–4 point strip blood flow; marked vascularity: more than 4 vessels.
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