scholarly journals Ultrasound characteristics of nodules in the thyroid gland

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-102
Author(s):  
Aleksandar Aleksić ◽  
Vlada Mitov ◽  
Aleksandar Jolić ◽  
Vanja Antić ◽  
Nataša Savić

Nodules in the thyroid gland are very common and can be found in 50-68% of adults in the general population. Only about 5% of these nodules are malignant and require treatment. They usually do not give any discomfort. When they are discovered, they should be assessed on the basis of clinical, echosonographic and cytological findings, and if necessary, using additional diagnostic methods, and make a decision on the need for treatment. Based on the ultrasound characteristics of the nodule, it is decided whether further diagnosis is needed, in terms of aspiration puncture with a thin needle (FNA) and cytological examination, after which a decision is made on further procedure. Ultrasound is the initial diagnostic method for the detection of thyroid nodules. In addition to the presence of nodules, it accurately determines the size, location and number of nodules in the thyroid gland (thyroid). This noninvasive screening method is safe, harmless and can be repeated. FNA is a very important diagnostic method, but its performance must be selective, since systematic puncture of all nodes, regardless of size or appearance, is not recommended. It is important that the indications for FNA be based on clinical characteristics, as well as on echosonographic stratification of the risk of malignancy.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0247807
Author(s):  
Suhail Al-Salam ◽  
Charu Sharma ◽  
Maysam T. Abu Sa’a ◽  
Bachar Afandi ◽  
Khaled M. Aldahmani ◽  
...  

Background Thyroid nodules are a common clinical finding and most are benign, however, 5–15% can be malignant. There is limited regional data describing the accuracy of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytological examination compared to ultrasound examination of thyroid in patients who have undergone thyroid surgery. Methods A retrospective analysis of ultrasonographic (US) reports, FNA cytology reports and histopathology reports of 161 thyroid nodules presented at the endocrine center at Tawam hospital in Al Ain city, the United Arab Emirates during the period 2011–2019 was performed. US reports and images with FNA cytopathology reports and slides were reviewed by an independent radiologist and pathologist. Results In total, 40 nodules were reported as benign by US examination, while very low suspicious, low suspicious, intermediate suspicious and highly suspicious categories were reported in 21, 41, 14 and 45 nodules respectively. In addition, 68 nodules were reported as benign (Bethesda category II), while atypical follicular cells of unknown significance (Bethesda category III), follicular neoplasm (Bethesda category IV), suspicious for malignancy (Bethesda category V), and malignant (Bethesda category VI) categories were reported in 33, 9, 24 and 27 nodules respectively. The risk of malignancy for US benign nodules was 5%, while the risks of malignancy in very low suspicious, low suspicious, intermediate suspicious and highly suspicious nodules were 52%, 36%, 100% and 87%, respectively. The risk of malignancy for Bethesda category II was 3%, while the risks of malignancy in category III, IV, V and VI were 58%, 67%, 96% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion Thyroid FNA cytological examination and ultrasonography are key tools in predicting malignancy in thyroid nodules. Thyroid nodules with the diagnosis of Bethesda category III & IV run a high risk of malignancy thus more vigilance is required.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. R1-R9
Author(s):  
Pedro Weslley Rosario ◽  
Tiara Grossi Rocha ◽  
Gabriela Franco Mourão

In thyroid nodules (TN) submitted to fine-needle aspiration (FNA), Bethesda categories III and IV are considered ‘indeterminate’ cytology. This result corresponds to 10–25% of all FNAs and the risk of malignancy (RoM) ranges from 10% to 30% for category III and from 15% to 40% for category IV. This review analyzed the practical applicability of accessible imaging method in the management of patients with cytologically indeterminate TN > 1 cm (ITN). When ITN are highly suspicious on ultrasonography (US), the RoM supports surgical indication even in the absence of additional tests. The same can be applied to ITN of intermediate suspicion but with elevated stiffness on elastography. Follow-up without additional tests is acceptable in the case of ITN with low-risk cytology and low-suspicion appearance on US and elastography (if obtained). In the case of ITN without highly suspicious US appearance, 123I scintigraphy may be obtained in patients with TSH < 1–1.5 mIU/L to rule out hyperfunctioning nodules before requesting diagnostic methods that are more expensive and less accessible. In addition, in ITN with not very suspicious US appearance, 18FDG-PET may be obtained. If this method does not reveal nodular uptake, the risk of the nodule corresponding to a macrocarcinoma is sufficiently low in order to allow follow-up. The positive predictive value of focal nodular uptake on 18FDG-PET depends on the pre-test RoM, cytological findings, and maximum SUV. There is currently no evidence for the use of CT, MRI or imaging using 99mTc-MIBI to define the nature of ITN.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Gulhan Duman ◽  
Baris Sariakcali

Purpose. The aim of our study is to investigate whether thyroid nodules (TNs) localization has value as a predictor of malignancy. Ultrasonography provides very valuable information in the evaluation of TNs, but it does not correlate perfectly with histopathologic findings. Therefore, studies that will include new diagnostic methods that can improve these unknowns can be welcomed gratefully. Methods. This study was carried out retrospectively in a tertiary care center from September 2016 to January 2020. The study included 862 adult patients who have one or more nodules. Ultrasonography of characteristics of nodules such as echogenicity, content, margins, calcifications, size, and localization was recorded. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was performed on dominant and suspicious 1142 nodules. Results. The patients were composed of 692 (80.3%) females and 170 (19.7%) males. Compared to nodules located in the isthmus; the malignancy risk increased 8.39 (OR: 8.39 (2.34–30.12), p  = 0.001) times in the lower pole, 4.27 (OR: 4.27 (1.16–15.72), p  = 0.029), times in the middle pole, 8.09 (OR: 8.09 (2.11–30.94), p  = 0.002) times in the upper pole, and 7.63 (OR: 7.63 (1.95–29.81), p  = 0.003) times in the nodules covering the whole of the lobe. Although the most nodular location was in the middle pole, the risk of malignancy was less than that in the lower and upper poles. Conclusions. Unlike the other localization studies, we found a higher risk of malignancy in the lower and similarly upper thyroid poles. Besides well-defined malignancy indicators in the literature and guidelines, localization information is promising for this purpose in the future.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 107327482094597
Author(s):  
Minxin Wang ◽  
Ping Sun ◽  
Xiaodong Zhao ◽  
Yongmei Sun

Ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy is the common choice for diagnosis of the suspected thyroid nodule. An algorithm(s) that finds the malignant potential of a nodule preoperatively, to overcome unnecessary diagnostic methods, does not exist. The objective of the study was to correlate thyroid nodule sizes measured by ultrasonography and risk of malignancy assessed by cytologic and histologic examinations. Data regarding fine-needle aspiration cytology and the results of histologic examinations of surgical specimens of 260 nodules were collected and analyzed. The macro or multiple calcifications, the complex echo pattern, and posterior region homogeneity were considered suspicious in ultrasonography. Bethesda system for classification of thyroid nodules was used for cytopathology. Histopathology performed as per the 2004 World Health Organization classification system. The benefit score analysis was performed for determination of clinical usefulness. Twenty-eight of 49 malignant nodules and 46 of 68 malignant nodules detected through ultrasound following fine-needle aspiration cytopathology and histopathology were <2 cm in size. A correlation was found for malignancy rate detected by ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology and those of the surgical specimen ( r = 0.945, P = .015, R 2 = 0.894). Ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology had 0.994 sensitivities, 0.721 accuracies, and 0.08 to 0.945 diagnostic confidence for the detection of malignant nodules. Nodule size less than 2 mm ( P = .011) was associated with the malignancy potential of thyroid nodules. Ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology had 19 (7%) results as a false negative and 1 (1%) results were false positive. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytopathology reported oversize of thyroid nodule than original but can predict the risk of malignancy. Level of Evidence: III.


1986 ◽  
Vol 113 (2) ◽  
pp. 226-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laszlo Hegedüs ◽  
Dagmar Veiergang ◽  
Steen Karstrup ◽  
Jens Mølholm Hansen

Abstract. Thyroid function and thyroid gland volume, ultrasonically determined, were investigated in 27 hyperthyroid patients with solitary autonomous thyroid nodules before and during one year after 131I-treatment. Total thyroid volume decreased gradually from 40.9 ± 3.5 ml (mean ± sem) before treatment to 23.9 ± 1.8 ml (P < 0.001) at 3 months after 131I-treatment. No further change was observed. All but two patients received only one dose of 131I, and in spite of a significant decrease also of the non-adenoma side of the gland, none became hypothyroid. We conclude that 131I-therapy has an important place in the treatment of solitary autonomous thyroid nodules since all our patients became euthyroid within 3 months, only 2 of 27 patients needed more than one dose of 131I, no cases of hypothyroidism occurred, and thyroid volume was substantially decreased.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-23
Author(s):  
Nikolai S. Grachev ◽  
Elena V. Feoktistova ◽  
Igor N. Vorozhtsov ◽  
Natalia V. Babaskina ◽  
Ekaterina Yu. Iaremenko ◽  
...  

Background.Ultrasound (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is the gold standard in diagnosing the pathological nature of undetermined thyroid nodules. However, in some instances limitations and shortcomings arise, making it insufficient for determining a specific diagnosis.Objective.Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of ACR TI-RADS classification of neck ultrasound as a first-line diagnostic approach for thyroid neoplasms in pediatric patients.Methods.A retrospective analysis was made of FNA and US protocols in 70 patients who underwent the examination and treatment at Dmitry Rogachev National Research Center between January 2012 and August 2017. In the retrospective series 70% (49/70) of patients undergone FNA and 43% (30/70) of them undergone repeated FNA. All US protocols were interpreted according to ACR TI-RADS system by the two independent experts. The clinical judgment was assessed using the concordance test and the reliability of preoperative diagnostic methods was analized.Results.According to histologic examination protocols, benign nodules reported greater multimorbidity 29% (20/70), compared with thyroid cancer 17% (12/70), complicating FNA procedure. A statistically significant predictor of thyroid cancer with a tumor size ACR TI-RADS showed a significant advantage of ACR TI-RADS due to higher sensitivity (97.6 vs 60%), specificity (78.6 vs 53.8%), positive predictive value (87.2 vs 71.4%), and negative predictive value (95.7 vs 41.2%). Concordance on the interpreted US protocols according to ACR TI-RADS classification between two experts was high, excluding accidental coincidence.Conclusion.The data support the feasibility of US corresponding to the ACR TI-RADS classification as a first-line diagnostic approach for thyroid neoplasm reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies for thyroid nodules.


2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 435-443
Author(s):  
Maria Elena Ceballos ◽  
Patricio Ross ◽  
Martin Lasso ◽  
Isabel Dominguez ◽  
Marcela Puente ◽  
...  

In this prospective, multicentric, observational study, we describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of people living with HIV (PLHIV) requiring hospitalization due to COVID-19 in Chile and compare them with Chilean general population admitted with SARS-CoV-2. Consecutive PLHIV admitted with COVID-19 in 23 hospitals, between 16 April and 23 June 2020, were included. Data of a temporally matched-hospitalized general population were used to compare demography, comorbidities, COVID-19 symptoms, and major outcomes. In total, 36 PLHIV subjects were enrolled; 92% were male and mean age was 44 years. Most patients (83%) were on antiretroviral therapy; mean CD4 count was 557 cells/mm3. Suppressed HIV viremia was found in 68% and 56% had, at least, one comorbidity. Severe COVID-19 occurred in 44.4%, intensive care was required in 22.2%, and five patients died (13.9%). No differences were seen between recovered and deceased patients in CD4 count, HIV viral load, or time since HIV diagnosis. Hypertension and cardiovascular disease were associated with a higher risk of death ( p = 0.02 and 0.006, respectively). Compared with general population, the HIV cohort had significantly more men (OR 0.15; IC 95% 0.07–0.31) and younger age (OR 8.68; IC 95% 2.66–28.31). In PLHIV, we found more intensive care unit admission (OR 2.31; IC 95% 1.05–5.07) but no differences in the need for mechanical ventilation or death. In this cohort of PLHIV hospitalized with COVID-19, hypertension and cardiovascular comorbidities, but not current HIV viro-immunologic status, were the most important risk factors for mortality. No differences were found between PLHIV and general population in the need for mechanical ventilation and death.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (9) ◽  
pp. 853-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen L. Partyka ◽  
Karen Trevino ◽  
Melissa L. Randolph ◽  
Harvey Cramer ◽  
Howard H. Wu

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