The Occurrence of Calcification in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Mechanism and Clinical Characteristics

Background Calcification is a hallmark imaging feature of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), present in 50–70% of cases and closely associated with tumor aggressiveness and prognosis. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the pathogenesis, imaging characteristics, molecular mechanisms, and clinical implications of calcification in PTC. We discuss the formation of psammoma bodies (microcalcifications) and dystrophic calcifications, their correlation with BRAF V600E mutations and MAPK pathway activation, and their diagnostic and prognostic significance. Emerging evidence suggests calcification patterns can predict lymph node metastasis, recurrence risk, and response to therapy, guiding personalized management. Future directions include liquid biopsy for calcification-associated biomarkers and targeted therapies modulating mineralization pathways.