What does a heterogeneous thyroid nodule mean?
Heterogeneous echogenicity of the thyroid gland has been associated with diffuse thyroid disease and benign and malignant nodules can coexist with diffuse thyroid disease. Underlying heterogeneous echogenicity might make it difficult to differentiate between benign and malignant nodules on US.
What does heterogeneous mean on ultrasound?
Heterogeneous refers to a structure with dissimilar components or elements, appearing irregular or variegated. For example, a dermoid cyst has heterogeneous attenuation on CT. It is the antonym for homogeneous, meaning a structure with similar components. Heterogenous refers to a structure having a foreign origin.
What is homogeneous thyroid?
The echotexture of the normal thyroid is usually homogeneous and bright. A thyroid nodule is defined as a discrete lesion within the thyroid gland that is ultrasonographically distinct from the surrounding thyroid parenchyma [12].
What is meaning of homogeneous?
1 : of the same or a similar kind or nature. 2 : of uniform structure or composition throughout a culturally homogeneous neighborhood.
Is heterogeneous thyroid normal?
Heterogeneous appearance of thyroid parenchyma is associated with positivity for thyroid autoantibody and hypofunctioning of thyroid gland. On the other hand, it is not determined whether thyroid parenchyma appearing totally of normal ecogenity on USG is related to presence normal thyroid function tests or otherwise.
Can an ultrasound tell if a thyroid nodule is cancerous?
An ultrasound may show your doctor if a lump is filled with fluid or if it’s solid. A solid one is more likely to have cancerous cells, but you’ll still need more tests to find out. The ultrasound will also show the size and number of nodules on your thyroid.
What does thyroid gland is homogeneous mean?
A: If a person has a heterogeneous thyroid, it means that things are not uniform in his thyroid. The disease refers to a thyroid gland that is not uniform in structure and may indicate a thyroid disorder. You might have heard the term homogenous, which means the same or similar in context.
What causes nodules in your thyroid?
A thyroid lesion, sometimes called a thyroid nodule, occurs when abnormal lumps appear on a person’s thyroid. There can be multiple causes for a thyroid lesion. These causes can include iodine deficiency, chronic inflammation and cancer.
What causes a nodule in the thyroid gland?
The majority of thyroid nodules are caused by an overgrowth of normal thyroid tissue. The cause of this overgrowth is usually unknown, but there is a strong genetic basis. In rare cases, thyroid nodules are associated with: Iodine deficiency is rare in the United States due to the widespread use of iodized salt and iodine-containing multivitamins.
What is a heterogeneous appearing thyroid gland?
Heterogeneous echogenicity of the thyroid gland is a non-specific finding and is associated with conditions diffusely affecting the thyroid gland. These include: Hashimoto thyroiditis. Graves disease.