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Thyroid adenoma ultrasound

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ammu Susheela, M.D. [2] Roukoz A. Karam, M.D.[3]

Overview

On ultrasound, thyroid adenoma is characterized by halo sign or smooth margin of thyroid, hyperechoic nodules, and normal reactive cervical nodes.

Ultrasound

Key Ultrasound Findings in Thyroid Adenoma

  • The blood assays may be accompanied by ultrasound imaging of the nodule to determine the position, size, and texture, and to assess whether the nodule may be cystic (fluid filled).
  • Ultrasound features showing a significant association with malignancy:[1]
    • Solid component
    • Hypoechogenicity
    • Marked hypoechogenicity
    • Microlobulated or irregular margins
    • Microcalcifications
    • Taller-than-wide shape
  • Risk of malignancy increases with the increase in number of suspicious ultrasound features.[1]
Ultrasound characteristics of thyroid nodules
▸ Halo sign or a smooth magrin
▸ Normal reactive cervical nodes
▸ Cystic nodule
▸ Spongioform nodules
▸ Hyperechoic masses
▸ Eggshell calcifications
▸ A decrease in size over time
Adapted from Arzu Tatlıpınar1 and İlkay Kartal [Updated 2015].The Evaluation of Thyroid Nodules. Journal of Thyroid Disorders & Therapy.2015.[2]

Colloid Nodule

  • Isoechoic to hypoechoic
  • May have internal cystic or heterogeneous change
  • May have calcification
  • Multiple echogenic foci (of inspissated colloid) with comet tail artifact

Ultrasound Examples of Thyroid Adenoma

Comet tail artifacts from colloid. Ultrasound image of colloid thyroid adenoma.http://www.wikipedia.org[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Kwak JY, Han KH, Yoon JH, Moon HJ, Son EJ, Park SH; et al. (2011). “Thyroid imaging reporting and data system for US features of nodules: a step in establishing better stratification of cancer risk”. Radiology. 260 (3): 892–9. doi:10.1148/radiol.11110206. PMID 21771959.
  2. İlkay Kartal, Arzu Tatlıpınar (2014). “The Evaluation of Thyroid Nodules”. Journal of Thyroid Disorders and Therapy. 04 (02). doi:10.4172/2167-7948.1000181. ISSN 2167-7948.
  3. “Wikipedia thyroid ultrasound”.

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