Thyroid Nodules Evaluation with Sonography

Thyroid nodules are common findings in clinical practice and occur in more than 50% of adult population; nevertheless, only 7% of thyroid nodules are malignant. The aim of this study were to assess the value of ultrasound [US] in the detection of nodules, to characterize the thyroid nodules patterns by ultrasound and to differentiate between benign and malignant nodules. A total of 120 patients [31 women, 89 men] with nodules ages ranged [16 – 60] years were included in the study consecutive patients had undergone thyroid US at Sudir hospital, Riyadh, KAS, evaluated the following characteristics on US images: nodule size, presence of spongiform appearance, shape, margin, echo texture, echogenicity, and presence of calcification. The total ultrasound score was obtained by summing up each ultrasound findings for nodules. US revealed that size of thyroid nodules [from 40–60 mm] 17%, above 60 mm 83% , the appearance in diagnosis of thyroid gland nodules such as thyroid cyst 31 patients ,Hyperplasia & multi nodular goiter 29 patient, de Quervain 3 patients, Hashimato`s thyroiditis 34 patients, Thyroid lymphoma 2 patients, Adenoma 18 patients, Carcinoma [malignant] 3 patients, [70%] of nodules are solid, whereas the remaining [30%] exhibit various amounts .The ultrasound diagnosis, detects and gets main signs about the types of thyroid nodules, thus the study advices to do differential diagnosis by taking (FNA) biopsy , Shape, margin, echogenicity, and presence of calcification are helpful criteria for the discrimination of thyroid nodules.