Value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of primary hepatic carcinoma and thyroid carcinoma

The present study explored the value of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) and thyroid carcinoma (TC) by assessing their sonographic features. A total of 426 patients diagnosed with liver space-occupying lesions by ultrasonic examination admitted to Liaocheng People's Hospital from March 2014 to October 2017 were enrolled in this study. These patients were divided into two groups: A total of 226 patients with 237 foci in the PHC group and 200 patients with 216 foci in the benign liver lesion group. During the same period, 367 patients diagnosed with thyroid nodules (382 nodules) by ultrasonic examination were also enrolled in this study. These patients were divided into further two groups: A total of 193 patients with 203 nodules in the TC group and 174 patients with 179 nodules in the benign thyroid nodule group. Two-dimensional and color Doppler ultrasonography were performed on all the patients in the four groups. Differences in the sonographic features such as focus morphology, focus size, internal echo, halo and blood flow distribution were statistically significant between patients in the PHC and the benign liver lesion group (p<0.001). Differences in the sonographic features such as nodule boundary, nodule size, internal echo, microcalcification, lymph node status and blood flow were statistically significant between patients in the TC and the benign thyroid nodule group (p<0.01). PHC can be differentiated from benign liver lesions by evaluation of focus morphology, focus size, internal echo, halo, and blood flow. TC can be differentiated from benign thyroid nodules by evaluation of nodule boundary, nodule size, internal echo, microcalcification, lymph node status, and blood flow. Ultrasonic diagnosis of PHC and TC is not only accurate, but also convenient, fast, cost-efficient and non-invasive. Thus, application of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of PHC and TC should be expanded for the benefits of patients.