Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Follicular thyroid cancer echocardiography or ultrasound
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Neck ultrasound may be performed to detect follicular thyroid cancer.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound
Key Ultrasound Findings in Thyroid Cancer
- Key ultrasound findings in thyroid cancer are:
- Large size, microcalcifications, and hypoechogenicity[1]
- Lymphadenopathy
- Microcalcifications- most specific finding associated with malignancy (~95%)
- Coarse calcifications
- Peripheral rim calcification
- Isoechoic solid nodule
- A nodule taller than it is wide
- Irregular margins
- The lymph node findings are:
- Enlarged regional lymph nodes are suspicious for thyroid malignancy
- Microcalcifications in regional lymph nodes are highly suspicious
- Lymph nodes with cystic change are highly suspicious
- Loss of normal fatty hilum, irregular node appearance
- Increased colour Doppler flow is suspicious
- Low threshold criteria for lymph node biopsy
- Biopsy if suspicious features
- Consider biopsy if >8 mm
Reference
Reference
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ammu Susheela, M.D. [2]