Advances in ultrasound for the diagnosis and management of thyroid cancer.
BACKGROUND
Ultrasonography (US) is increasingly being employed by endocrinologists and surgeons in the diagnosis and management of patients with thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. Recent consensus guidelines from the American Thyroid Association highlight the importance of this modality by recommending that patients with thyroid nodules should undergo further evaluation with cervical US to stratify the risk of malignancy. Likewise, ultrasound is advocated for the preoperative and postoperative diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
This article will summarize the US characteristics that impart a suspicious appearance on thyroid nodules and cervical lymph nodes as well as those findings that are reassuring. Likewise, the indications for thyroid nodule and lymph node fine-needle aspiration will be reviewed. Finally, this article will briefly discuss adjunctive tools in US such as elastography, percutaneous ethanol ablation, and radiofrequency ablation.


CONCLUSIONS
US may be used to help stratify the risk of malignancy in thyroid nodules and cervical lymph nodes. This tool further aids in the diagnosis of malignancy when used in conjunction with fine-needle aspiration. US plays an important role as both a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in the evaluation of patients with neck masses.
Sipos
Jennifer A
JA
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Ohio State University , Columbus, Ohio, USA. jennifer.sipos@osumc.edu
D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000431:Ethanol