With the improvements in the technology, ultrasonography of the thyroid has been applied to characterize the appearance and distinct featuresof thyroid nodules. In this review, we discuss the sonographic findings of thyroid nodules and we confirm that sonography has a definite role for diagnosing and evaluating thyroid nodules.
Diagnosis ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Ultrasonography*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Ultrasonography*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Ultrasonography*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Ultrasonography*

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to determine the risk of malignancy of thyroid nodules with minimal cystic changes. METHODS: A total of consecutive 1,000 thyroid nodules (≥1 cm) with final diagnoses from twoinstitutions were included in this study. The risk of malignancy of thyroid nodules was analyzed according to the internal content, which was categorized as purely solid, minimally cystic (cystic changes ≤10%), and partially cystic (cystic changes >10%). We also assessed the risk of malignancy of nodules with minimal cystic changes depending on echogenicity and presence of any suspicious ultrasonografic (US) features. RESULTS: The overall frequency of purely solid, minimally cystic, and partially cystic noduleswas 730/1,000 (73%), 61/1,000 (6.1%), and 209/1,000 (20.9%), respectively, with risks ofmalignancy of 14.8% (108/730), 3.3% (2/61), and 3.3% (7/209), respectively. The risk ofmalignancy of nodules with minimal cystic changes was significantly lower than that of purelysolid nodules (P=0.013). The risk of malignancy of nodules with minimal cystic changes was also lower than that of purely solid nodules in the group of hypoechoic nodules (P=0.063) and in the group of nodules with suspicious US features (P=0.028), but was not significantly different from that of partially cystic nodules regardless of echogenicity or the presence of suspicious US features (P≥0.652). CONCLUSION: Thyroid nodules with minimal cystic changes have a low risk of malignancy, similar to that of partially cystic nodules regardless of echogenicity or the presence of suspicious US features. The US lexicon could define solid nodules as nodules with purely solid internal content in order to enhance the accuracy of estimated risks of malignancy.
Diagnosis ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Ultrasonography

Minimally invasive image-guided thermal ablation is becoming increasingly common as an alternative to surgery for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Among the various techniques for thermal ablation, laser ablation (LA) is the least invasive, using the smallest applicators available on the market and enabling extremely precise energy deposition. However, in some cases, multiple laser fibers must be used simultaneously for the treatment of large nodules. In this review, the LA technique is described, and its main clinical applications and results are discussed and illustrated.
Laser Therapy* ; Thyroid Diseases* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule ; Ultrasonography

Ultrasonography is pivotal in triage thyroid biopsy in the era after the identification of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP). This pictorial essay illustrates the pathologic basis of the sonographic features that distinguish NIFTP from thyroid cancers. In this study, we present the correlations of ultrasonography to ×1 histopathology to assess shape and margin characteristics. Markedly hypoechoic nodules correlate to microfollicular/solid nodules, while isoechoic/hyperechoic thyroid nodules correlate to normofollicular/macrofollicular nodules. The ultrasound findings of NIFTP and minimally invasive encapsulated thyroid cancers are similar. Both are well-circumscribed, oval-to-round nodules with regular margins. Blurred or microlobulated margins indicate infiltrating tumors, while lobulated margins are characteristic of expansile tumors. Overtly invasive encapsulated tumors are characterized by oval-to-round nodules with irregular or lobulated margins. The ultrasound findings for infiltrative thyroid cancers show at least one of the following malignant features: marked hypoechoicity, taller-than-wide shape, microcalcifications, and blurred or microlobulated margins.
Biopsy ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroid Nodule ; Triage ; Ultrasonography*

Ultrasonography (US) is routinely used to evaluate thyroid nodules. The US features of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the most common thyroid malignancy, include hypoechogenicity, spiculated/microlobulated margins, microcalcifications, and a nonparallel orientation. However, many PTC variants have been identified, some of which differ from the classic type of PTC in terms of biological behavior and clinical outcomes. This review describes the US features and clinical implications of the variants of PTC. With the introduction of active surveillance replacing immediate biopsy or surgical treatment of indolent, small PTCs, an understanding of the US characteristics of PTC variants will facilitate the individualized management of patients with PTC.
Biopsy ; Humans ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroid Nodule ; Ultrasonography

Ultrasonograhy, it's excellent ability of differentiating cystic from solid lesion and depicting detailedarchitecture, proved itself useful in the diagnosis of thyroid pathologies. Adanced high resolution equipmentsmade hidden small lesion detected and finer structure clearly seen. They seemed to throw light on the histologicaldiagnosis of thyroid diseases, especially differentiation of benignancy and malignancy. Author reviewed picturesof high-resolution ultrasonography of thyroid disease(24 ases0 and correlated them witn proven pathologicalfindings. The results were as follows: 1. Multiplicity of lesion favors benignancy(4 cases). 2. Well definedmargin favors benignancy(14/17), while ill defined margin favors malignancy(3/4), and lesion of no margin favorsthyroiditis(3/3). 3. Surrounding halo favors benignancy(7 cases). 4. Hypoechogenicity were found in most ofmalignancy and thyroiditis. Cystic components in solid nodule were common findings in bening and malignantlesions. Calcification was not found in malignancy.
Diagnosis ; Pathology ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Nodule ; Thyroiditis ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is regarded as initial diagnostic procedure for thyroid nodules due to its accuracy and safety. One of the limitations of FNA is variable rate of inadequate specimen. Recently, ultrasound guidance has been suggested as a valuable method to improve diagnostic performance of FNA. The aim of this study is to evaluate the rates of adequate specimen when FNA is done with ultrasound guidance. METHODS: This study was performed on 304 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided FNA for thyroid nodules. Ultrasound-guided FNA was performed due to various causes. RESULTS: Inadequate specimens were obtained from 62 patients (20.4%). The sizes of thyroid nodules from which specimen obtained were 1.63+/-1.17 cm for adequate specimen, 1.18+/-0.72 cm for inadequate specimen respectively and differed significantly (p=0.001). When patients were divided by the size of thyroid nodules, the rates of inadequate specimen were significantly different between the groups above 1.5 cm and less than 1.5 cm (p=0.04). The rates of inadequate specimen were also different according to the indications of ultrasound guidance, 25.4% in nonpalpable thyroid nodules and 11.4% in complex cysts. When complex cyst group was divided by the size of thyroid nodules, the rates of inadequate specimen were not different. CONCLUSION: There are less benefits of ultrasound-guided FNA for patients with nodule size less than 1.5 cm. We recommend ultrasound guidance for patients with complex cyst rather than nonpalpable thyroid nodules.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Humans ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Ultrasonography