Discontinuous Peripheral Punctate Echogenic Foci in Thyroid Nodules: A New Sonographic Pattern Suggestive of Papillary Carcinoma
Authors' conclusion
In this hypothesis-generating case series, DPEF was strongly associated with PTC.
Study context
- Population
- Thyroid nodules with discontinuous peripheral punctate echogenic foci (DPEF) on US, 5 countries (Brazil, United States, Italy, France, Romania), January 2020–September 2025; histopathology after surgical resection23 nodules
- Participants
- 22 participants
- Outcome
- PTC confirmed on histopathology
Methodological detailsmulticenter, retrospective, hypothesis-generating
- Multicenter
- Retrospective
- Hypothesis-generating
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) confirmed in nodules with DPEF
100%
n = 23
Classical variants
16
"Hobnail" subtype
1
Papillary carcinoma not otherwise specified
3
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Patient and nodule characteristics
- Women / men
- 17 / 5
- Age range
- 17 to 57 years
- Mean age
- 36.1 years
- Median age
- 37.5 years
- Nodule maximum diameter range
- 0.4 cm to 4.8 cm
Original publication
Discontinuous Peripheral Punctate Echogenic Foci in Thyroid Nodules: A New Sonographic Pattern Suggestive of Papillary Carcinoma. Thyroid. Published 13 August 2026. doi:10.
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