The association between the thickness of the hypoechoic halo of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer: A retrospective study

Background The relationship between hypoechoic halos and thyroid cancer in patients with thyroid nodules remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the association between the thickness of the hypoechoic halo and thyroid cancer among patients with thyroid nodules. Methods Three hundred and twenty patients with thyroid nodules with a hypoechoic halo were enrolled for this retrospective analysis between January 2019 and December 2022. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to explore the association between the thickness of the hypoechoic halo of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. Interaction and stratified analyses were conducted, including age, sex, thickness, tumor size and tumor location. Results After adjusting for multiple covariates, the odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) of thyroid cancer for participants with a thickness ≥ 1 mm were 3.99 (2.4 ~ 6.62), 3.73 (2.09 ~ 6.67), and 3.16 (1.61 ~ 6.19), compared with those with a thickness < 1 mm. The association between thyroid cancer and the thickness of the halo of the thyroid nodule was stable in different subgroups (all P for interaction > 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) for the hypoechoic halo of nodules for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was 0.821 (95% CI: 0.774–0.868), and the sensitivity and specificity were highest when the thickness cutoff value was 1.29 mm. Conclusion In a sample of single-center adults, the thickness of the halo was positively related to the risk of thyroid cancer. Our findings indicate that halo thickness may become a promising tool to predict the incidence of thyroid cancer.