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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

Overview

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

Ultrasound

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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