Papillary thyroid cancer CT

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

Overview

CT scan may be helpful in the diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer. Findings on CT scan suggestive of papillary thyroid cancer include nodal masses suggesting metastasis to the lymph node.

CT scan

CT scan may be helpful in the diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer. Findings on CT scan suggestive of papillary thyroid cancer include nodal masses suggesting metastasis to the lymph node.^[1]
It is of particular attention that papillary thyroid cancer is the most common thyroid cancer for lymph node involvement.
Nodal mass may be the first presentation of papillary thyroid cancer on CT imaging.
Involved lymph nodes tend to have any of the following features:^[2]
- Cystic components
- Calcification
- Hyperdensity due to proteinaceous or hemorrhagic content
Primary tumor in the thyroid gland may appear as:^[1]
- A solid mass with fine calcification
- A large heterogeneous mass
CT scan imaging has been observed to have equal sensitivity and accuracy as MRI imaging in the detection of local invasion of the esophagus, trachea/larynx and recurrent laryngeal nerve.
CT Examples of Papillary thyroid cancer

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Hoang, Jenny K.; Branstetter, Barton F. IV; Gafton, Andreia R.; Lee, Wai K.; Glastonbury, Christine M. (2013). “Imaging of thyroid carcinoma with CT and MRI: approaches to common scenarios”. Cancer Imaging. 13 (1): 128–139. doi:10.1102/1470-7330.2013.0013. ISSN 1470-7330.
↑ Hoang, Jenny K.; Vanka, Jyotsna; Ludwig, Benjamin J.; Glastonbury, Christine M. (2013). “Evaluation of Cervical Lymph Nodes in Head and Neck Cancer With CT and MRI: Tips, Traps, and a Systematic Approach”. American Journal of Roentgenology. 200 (1): W17–W25. doi:10.2214/AJR.12.8960. ISSN 0361-803X.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 Image courtesy of Dr David Cuete. Radiopaedia (original file ‘’here’’.Creative Commons BY-SA-NC

Overview