Endo: Thyroid Imaging Flashcards
What is the best imaging for anatomic evaluation of thyroid?
Ultrasound
How is x ray used in evaluation of thyroid?
X ray is not used to detect thyroid disease
(but thyroid pathology may be picked up incidentally)
High frequency ultrasound produces ________ resolution images of __________ structures (deep v superficial)
High frequency ultrasound produces high resolution images of superficial structures
Define a thyroid nodule
Discrete lesion that is radiologically distinct from surrounding parenchyma
Which is the cystic nodule?
Bottom is cystic nodule.
Top is solid nodule.
A increase in doppler (blood flow) in the thyroid could indicate…. (2)
Inflammation or hyperfunctioning gland
Where else should you check in pts with thyroid nodules?
Lymph nodes
What structure are you looking at?
Which is normal?
This is a lymph node.
Left is normal
What is the use of neck CT in thyroid cancer?
CT is used to (1) evaluate the local extent of cancer in adjacent structures and (2) check lymph nodes
What is the use of MRI in evaluation of thyroid cancer?
Evaluate for infiltrative disease, especially post-therapy
(MRI has better resolution than CT)
What is the use of PET/CT scan?
Is it functional or anatomical?
Detect metastatic disease (staging thyroid cancer)
Both functional and anatomical imaging
What is the use of iodine scans?
Shows the distribution of functioning and ectopic thyroid tissue
What do cold nodules look like on iodine scan?
Cold nodules will be blank (not taking up iodine)
Is the risk of malignancy higher if the nodule is hot or cold?
Risk of malignancy is higher if thyroid nodule is cold (it is mutated enough that it’s no longer making normal thyroid hormones)
What imaging can distinguish between benign and malignant thyroid nodules?
No imaging modality can reliably differentiate between benign and malignant thyroid nodules
