Table 4 Number of ultrasound characteristics (percent in brackets) in the study groups
From: Advanced thyroid carcinomas: neural network analysis of ultrasonographic characteristics
Ultrasound feature | ADV (n = 32) | PTC (n = 32) | FTC (n = 32) | p-values | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ADV vs. PTC | ADV vs. FTC | PTC vs. FTC | ||||
Shapea | 0.004 | 0.010 | 0.002 | |||
Round | 4 (13) | 10 (31) | 6 (19) | |||
Oval | 4 (13) | 8 (25) | 23 (72) | |||
Irregular | 24 (75) | 9 (28) | 2 (6) | |||
TTW | 0 (0) | 4 (13) | 1 (3) | |||
Contoura | 0.131 | 0.012 | 0.318 | |||
Well-defined | 4 (13) | 10 (31) | 14 (44) | |||
Ill-defined | 28 (88) | 22 (69) | 18 (56) | |||
Structurea | 0.724 | 0.753 | 0.509 | |||
Homogeneous | 5 (16) | 4 (13) | 7 (22) | |||
Inhomogeneous | 27 (84) | 28 (88) | 25 (78) | |||
Echogenicitya | 0.192 | 0.336 | 0.704 | |||
Hypoechogenic | 26 (81) | 21 (66) | 21 (66) | |||
Hyperechogenic | 5 (16) | 6 (19) | 8 (25) | |||
Cystic | 1 (3) | 5 (16) | 3 (9) | |||
Calcificationsa | 0.044 | 0.572 | 0.005 | |||
Present | 10 (31) | 19 (59) | 7 (22) | |||
Not present | 22 (69) | 13 (41) | 25 (78) | |||
Focalitya | 0.184 | 0.613 | 0.026 | |||
Unifocal | 29 (91) | 24 (75) | 31 (97) | |||
Multifocal | 3 (9) | 8 (25) | 1 (3) | |||