What is an inhomogeneous thyroid?
Chronic nonspecific thyroid diseases are characterized by inhomogeneous echogenicity of the organ. Thyroid cancer is characterized by hypoechogenicity of a node with its inhomogeneous structure and irregular contours as if consisting of several nodules.
What is a homogeneous thyroid nodule?
US Definition and Description of Thyroid Nodule 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].
Are Isoechoic thyroid nodules cancer?
Most of the hyperechoic and isoechoic nodules are benign. The incidence of malignancy is only 4% among solid hyperechoic lesions; it increases to 26% for isoechoic lesions[23].
What is a halo on thyroid nodule?
The halo or hypoechoic rim around a thyroid nodule is produced by a pseudocapsule of fibrous connective tissue, a compressed thyroid parenchyma, and chronic inflammatory infiltrates (,29) (,Fig 9). A completely uniform halo around a nodule is highly suggestive of benignity, with a specificity of 95% (,30).
What does inhomogeneous appearance mean?
Definition of inhomogeneity 1 : the condition or an instance of not being homogeneous. 2 : a part that is not homogeneous with the larger uniform mass in which it occurs especially : a localized collection of matter in the universe.
What does inhomogeneous mean on ultrasound?
Inhomogeneous or heterogeneous: organ parenchyma is not uniform in echogenicity (Figure 1-5). Ultrasound Artifacts. Artifacts may be caused by the following: • Ultrasound waves interacting with tissue.
What size thyroid nodule should be biopsied?
According to the Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound, biopsy should be performed on a nodule 1 cm in diameter or larger with microcalcifications, 1.5 cm in diameter or larger that is solid or has coarse calcifications, and 2 cm in diameter or larger that has mixed solid and cystic components, and a nodule that has …
What does Isoechoic Mass mean?
(ī″sō-ĕ-kō′ĭk) Producing ultrasound echoes equal to those of neighboring or of normal tissues.
At what size should a thyroid nodule be biopsied?
What is the difference between homogeneous and inhomogeneous?
A homogeneous system of linear equations is one in which all of the constant terms are zero. A homogeneous system always has at least one solution, namely the zero vector. A nonhomogeneous system has an associated homogeneous system, which you get by replacing the constant term in each equation with zero.