Keywords:
Head and neck, Interventional non-vascular, Management, Ultrasound, Ultrasound-Colour Doppler, Biopsy, Diagnostic procedure, Cancer, Education and training, Pathology
Authors:
S. A. H. hassanein1, B. A. M. Dessouky2, Z. ali3; 1Shebin el-kom,menoufia/EG, 2Elgharbeya/EG, 3Cairo/EG
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2019/C-0832
Conclusion
Thyroid nodules are a common clinical problem and because the risk for malignancy in these thyroid nodules is low,
the issue of how best to manage the current epidemic of thyroid nodules in an increasingly cost-constrained environment is a critical one.
Thyroid ultrasound has been widely used to differentiate benign from malignant nodules and to guide fine-needle aspiration biopsy for nodules suspected of being malignant.
Although there is some overlap between the ultrasound appearance of benign nodules and that of malignant nodules,
certain features are helpful in differentiating between the two.
These features include micro-calcifications,
local invasion,
lymph node metastases,
a nodule with antero-posterior diameter larger than transverse diameter and markedly reduced echogenicity.
Other features,
such as the absence of a halo,
ill-defined irregular margins,
solid composition,
and vascularity,
are less specific but may be useful ancillary signs.
In conclusion; the routine use of US-guided FNA biopsy for those suspicious features allows prompt identification and treatment of thyroid malignancies and avoidance of unnecessary surgery in patients with benign lesions,
thereby improving the overall quality of life for patients with thyroid nodules.