Evaluation And Analysis Of Thyroid Nodules Flashcards
What age groups are higher risk for thyroid malignancy?
Age less than 20 years or greater than 60 - 80.
Name 6 thyroid cancer risk factors on history and physical (other than age).
- Prior radiation
- Rapid growth
- Family history
- Hoarseness
- Dysphagia
- Lymphadenopathy
What features have high clinical suspicion for thyroid cancer?
(8 features)
- Rapid tumor growth
- Very firm nodule (rock hard)
- Fixation to adjacent structures
- Vocal cord paresis
- Enlarged regional lymph nodes
- Family history of PTC or MEN 2
- Distant metastasis
- History of radiation exposure to the head/neck
What is the positive predictive value of ‘high clinical suspicion’ features for thyroid cancer?
70 - 75% (Good)
What is the negative predictive value of ‘high clinical suspicion’ features for thyroid cancer?
85% (Unacceptable)
Name three tests for thyroid nodules.
- I-123 scan
- Thyroid ultrasound
- FNA biopsy
Palpation is not accurate in up to ____% of patients with solitary palpable nodules.
30%
___% of patients have no corresponding nodule on US.
16
____% have an additional non-palpable nodule > 1 cm on US
15
Ultrasound will find additional non-palpable nodules > 1 cm in ___ in ___ patients.
1 in 7 patients
Ultrasound is extremely sensitive.
True or false?
True
In what 5 scenarios does the normal neck need to be ultrasound-ed?
- External radiation during childhood
- History of familial thyroid cancer
- Previous history of thyroid cancer
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Morphology impeding exam
Are discrepancies between ultrasound features of risk of malignancy operator-dependent?
Yes
What is a ‘white knight’?
Hyperechoic nodule - particularly in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
What is the primary goal in evaluating thyroid nodules?
To determine if the nodule is benign or malignant.
Are most hyperechoic nodules benign or malignant?
Benign
What kind of neoplasm is a thick, irregular halo suggestive of?
- Follicular or Hurthle cell carcinoma or adenoma
- Encapsulated papillary cancer follicular variant
What is a halo thought to represent?
Thought to represent the compressed perinodular vessels.
If halo is absent - suggestive of an infiltrative malignancy…
Sensitivity?
66%
If halo is absent - suggestive of an infiltrative malignancy…
Specificity?
54%
Benign or malignant?
Thin-walled cyst without a solid component.
Benign
Benign or malignant?
Halo
Benign
Benign or malignant?
Smooth margin
Benign
Benign or malignant?
Hyperechoic nodule
Benign
Benign or malignant?
Colloid within cystic nodule…
Benign
What artifact does colloid within a cystic nodule produce on ultrasound?
- Comet tail
- Cat’s eye
Benign or malignant?
Eggshell calcifications (smooth)…
Benign
Benign or malignant?
Eggshell calcifications (interrupted)…
Malignant
Amorphous calcifications with shadowing…
Diagnosis?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Benign or malignant?
Multiple confluent nodules without normal intervening parenchyma.
Benign
A patient with a multiple discrete thyroid nodules has ______ risk of malignancy as a patient with a solitary nodule.
The same
Multiple discrete nodules need to be evaluated individually.
True or false?
True