Hypoechoic formation of the thyroid gland

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Hypoechoic formations of the thyroid gland are structures that, on ultrasound or any other examination, look darker than adipose tissue. Specifically, on ultrasound, hypoechoic formations are displayed in a saturated dark gray color, bordering on a shade of black.

Hypoechoic formations - this is not a window study

Patients who first detect hypoechoic nodes, most often begin to suspect the presence of cancer and fall into a mild shock. Needless to say, that psychosomatics will not keep itself waiting and, most likely, such an impressionable patient will immediately find many symptoms that confirm his theory. However, in fact, not everything is so sad, because in most cases these formations turn out to be simple fluid structures, vascular formations or cysts, which are a small cavity filled with liquid, and are formed as a result of iodine deficiency or a violation of its metabolism in the human body.

In addition to the thyroid, hypoechoic formation of the mammary gland is also quite common. This is due to the fact that the milky ducts, which quite partly swell due to accumulation of excess fluid, also show a dark color on an ultrasound scan.

Analyzes will put everything in its place

In that case, during the study you have been identified hypoechoic formations, do not panic. First of all, you need to check the hormonal background, and for this you need to pass a few tests. First of all, doctors recommend checking the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone, total and free T3, free T4, as well as the number of antibodies to thyroglobulin. If the results show any hormonal abnormalities, then most likely, the neoplasm was formed as a result of metabolic disorders, and it can be eliminated with conservative treatment methods.

If all the tests are normal, then the only possible treatment tactic will have to choose a long-term observation. In order to be completely sure that nothing is threatening you, it is necessary to undergo an ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland at least once every six months, and if the formation does not grow or completely disappears from the field of view, then you can leave it alone and not resort to any radical methods of treatment. In order to protect yourself from possible complications, it is best to start taking iodine-containing drugs, as well as consult an endocrinologist about a malfunction of the hormonal system and the possibility of using hormone therapy.

But, unfortunately, hypoechoic formations are not always a simple accumulation of fluid, therefore, if the size exceeds 1 cm or the formation is constantly increasing, it is necessary to do a biopsy, that is, take part of this neoplasm for histological examination. Thyroid biopsy is usually taken with a thin needle under strict ultrasound guidance. After this, a number of studies are put on the biopsy specimen that determine the “malignancy” of these cells. But do not despair if the doctor decided to prescribe a biopsy, because according to statistics, only about 5% of all thyroid gland nodes are malignant.

In any case, no matter what diagnosis you make, first of all you should always rely on the doctor’s opinion and strictly adhere to the recommendations written to you, because most of the complications of all diseases begin because the patient asked for medical help late or did not adhere treatment methods selected by a specialist.


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