Relationship between BRAF mutation and US imaging characteristics by visual assessment of papillary thyroid carcinomas
| BRAF (+) PTC (n = 48) | BRAF (−) PTC (n = 48) | P Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal content | .16 | ||
| Solid | 46 (95.8) | 41 (85.4) | |
| Predominantly solid | 2 (4.2) | 7 (14.6) | |
| Echogenicity | .012 | ||
| Markedly hypoechoic | 20 (41.7) | 8 (16.7) | |
| Hypoechoic | 23 (47.9) | 26 (54.2) | |
| Isoechoic | 5 (10.4) | 13 (27.1) | |
| Hyperechoic | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.1) | |
| Shape | .08 | ||
| Irregular | 12 (25.0) | 20 (41.7) | |
| Round to oval | 36 (75.0) | 28 (58.3) | |
| Orientation | .007 | ||
| Nonparallel | 26 (54.2) | 13 (27.1) | |
| Parallel | 22 (45.8) | 35 (72.9) | |
| Margin | .66 | ||
| Spiculated/microlobulated | 35 (72.9) | 31 (64.6) | |
| Ill-defined | 4 (8.3) | 6 (12.5) | |
| Smooth | 9 (18.8) | 11 (22.9) | |
| Calcification | .33 | ||
| No | 18 (37.5) | 16 (33.3) | |
| Microcalcification | 19 (39.6) | 22 (45.8) | |
| Macrocalcification | 6 (12.5) | 9 (18.8) | |
| Rim calcification | 5 (10.4) | 1 (2.1) | |
| Final K-TIRADS category | .004 | ||
| 3 (Low suspicion) | 1 (2.1) | 3 (6.3) | |
| 4 (Intermediate suspicion) | 9 (18.8) | 22 (45.8) | |
| 5 (High suspicion) | 38 (79.2) | 23 (47.9) |