Differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid nodules

Written by Hu Jian Zhuo
Nephrology and Endocrinology
Updated on September 06, 2024
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Generally speaking, whether benign or malignant, thyroid nodules show blood flow signals. For benign nodules, blood flow signals can be seen around the perimeter, with internal blood flow no different from normal thyroid tissue. In such cases, the nodules are typically diagnosed as thyroid adenomas, and they usually appear round or oval in shape with a uniformly echoic internal substance. If liquefaction occurs, mixed or cystic changes can appear; the tumor’s capsule tends to be intact, with clear boundaries. If a nodule has abundant internal blood flow with disorganized vessel distribution and high flow velocity, showing a high-resistance flow pattern, and has relatively less peripheral blood flow, it generally needs to be assessed for thyroid cancer. These nodules are often hypoechoic with irregular shapes, and the ratio of their longitudinal to transverse diameter is greater than 1. They have unclear boundaries, lack a capsule, and have no halo. In typical cases, microcalcifications like sand grains can also be observed. From the above analysis, we can see that the blood flow signals in thyroid nodules are complicated and reflect the extent of the nodular pathology. These signals can help in differentiating benign from malignant nodules, but when a rich and disorganized blood flow is observed, the nodule is more likely to be malignant.

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Written by Hu Jian Zhuo
Nephrology and Endocrinology
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Thyroid nodule examination checks what

Generally, when thyroid nodules are detected, one should visit the hospital's breast and thyroid surgery department or the endocrinology department. If you find a thyroid nodule, you can consult a doctor and undergo some relevant tests based on your specific situation. Typically, the following tests are conducted: 1. Thyroid ultrasound: This can determine the size, number, location, texture, shape, and edges of the nodules, including whether there is calcification. It also examines the blood supply within the thyroid nodule, the relationship with surrounding tissues, and assesses whether there are lymph nodes in the neck and the nature of these lymph nodes. 2. Blood tests are needed to measure thyroid function, particularly the level of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). Higher levels of TSH indicate that the thyroid nodule is more likely to be proliferative, and thus, the risk of thyroid cancer increases. In addition, Thyroglobulin (Tg) can be measured. Another measure is Serum Calcitonin (Ct). If serum calcitonin is > 100 pg/mL, medullary thyroid cancer should be highly considered, as these cancer cells can secrete large amounts of serum calcitonin, causing this marker to significantly increase. Nuclear isotope imaging is also performed. If the nodule is large and TSH levels are low, a thyroid radionuclide scan is conducted to see if the nodule is a hyperfunctioning adenoma. When necessary, a Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) is also performed. Fine needle aspiration is an invasive test, but it is currently an important and most efficient method to assess the benign or malignant nature of the nodule. It is generally performed under ultrasound guidance.

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Written by Hu Jian Zhuo
Nephrology and Endocrinology
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Does thyroid nodule puncture hurt?

Fine needle aspiration is an invasive examination, but it is currently an important and most efficient method for assessing benign and malignant conditions, generally conducted under ultrasound guidance. Thyroid nodule aspiration does not cause much pain, similar to that of an injection. Anesthetics are used during the procedure, so the pain is not very noticeable. However, as the effect of the anesthetic wears off, there may still be some pain at the puncture site, but the patients do not need to carry a heavy psychological burden.

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Written by Hu Jian Zhuo
Nephrology and Endocrinology
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Differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid nodules

Generally speaking, whether benign or malignant, thyroid nodules show blood flow signals. For benign nodules, blood flow signals can be seen around the perimeter, with internal blood flow no different from normal thyroid tissue. In such cases, the nodules are typically diagnosed as thyroid adenomas, and they usually appear round or oval in shape with a uniformly echoic internal substance. If liquefaction occurs, mixed or cystic changes can appear; the tumor’s capsule tends to be intact, with clear boundaries. If a nodule has abundant internal blood flow with disorganized vessel distribution and high flow velocity, showing a high-resistance flow pattern, and has relatively less peripheral blood flow, it generally needs to be assessed for thyroid cancer. These nodules are often hypoechoic with irregular shapes, and the ratio of their longitudinal to transverse diameter is greater than 1. They have unclear boundaries, lack a capsule, and have no halo. In typical cases, microcalcifications like sand grains can also be observed. From the above analysis, we can see that the blood flow signals in thyroid nodules are complicated and reflect the extent of the nodular pathology. These signals can help in differentiating benign from malignant nodules, but when a rich and disorganized blood flow is observed, the nodule is more likely to be malignant.

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Written by Hu Jian Zhuo
Nephrology and Endocrinology
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Effects after thyroid nodule removal

Thyroid surgery often leads to postoperative bleeding as a common complication. Bleeding may compress the trachea, causing difficulty in breathing. If a patient exhibits severe breathing difficulties along with significant bleeding from the drainage tube post-surgery, emergency hemostasis should be performed. Secondly, tracheomalacia. Long-term compression from the mass softens the tracheal wall, leading to a collapse due to inadequate support from surrounding tissues. Thus, after removing thyroid nodules, the thyroid and adjacent tissues fail to support the softened trachea, resulting in breathing difficulties. Thirdly, pharyngeal edema. During surgery, inflammatory stimulation can cause edema in the surrounding tissues, which may lead to difficulty in breathing. Therefore, after ruling out possibilities of postoperative bleeding, tracheomalacia, or vocal cord paralysis, pharyngeal edema should be considered. Nebulization therapy can be administered. Fourthly, vocal cord paralysis is common due to accidental damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve during surgery, causing hoarseness. Generally, patients may gradually recover over three to six months, and symptoms can improve. The fifth effect is damage to the parathyroid glands. If the parathyroid glands are damaged, it may lead to abnormal blood calcium levels and symptoms of hypocalcemia, such as tetany and spasms. Most cases are due to vascular damage to the parathyroid glands resulting in temporary hypofunction, which often recovers shortly. The sixth possible outcome is a thyroid storm. Some patients with hyperthyroidism may experience a sudden release of large amounts of thyroid hormone into the bloodstream post-surgery, causing high fever, irregular heart rate, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, coma, and even death. The seventh effect is that removal of the thyroid gland leads to a deficiency in thyroid hormones, resulting in symptoms of hypothyroidism.

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Written by Hu Jian Zhuo
Nephrology and Endocrinology
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Do thyroid nodules require surgery?

Whether thyroid nodules require treatment generally depends on medical guidelines. Thyroid nodules larger than 1cm with malignant features typically require biopsy. The decision for a biopsy should be made by a professional ultrasonographer after examination. Therefore, upon detecting a nodule, it is crucial to visit a specialized hospital for further ultrasound examination. If the nodule is malignant, we recommend surgical removal. If it is benign, close observation is advisable. However, treatment is necessary under the following conditions: First, if the nodule is too large and compresses other organs, causing breathing difficulties, localized swelling, pain, or other discomforts. Second, if the nodule grows quickly, increasing in volume by more than 50% within six months, the possibility of malignancy should be considered and treatment is needed. Third, if the thyroid nodule is located behind the sternum, which is called an ectopic thyroid nodule, surgical treatment is necessary. If the thyroid nodule is large enough to affect the aesthetics of the neck, surgical treatment may also be considered.