What causes thickening of the thyroid ultrasound echo?

Thyroid B-ultrasound examination is a routine examination item. If there is a thyroid problem, the examination report will be abnormal. So what is the reason for the thickening of the thyroid echo?

What does uneven thyroid echo mean?

Director Li Tao of the Thyroid Surgery Department of Beijing Coal General Hospital introduced: The thyroid gland has uneven echo, which indirectly indicates that there may be inflammation, thickening and strengthening, and inflammatory changes, which are abnormal changes.

Different thyroid echoes represent different thyroid diseases

● Hypoechoic area: refers to nodules, solid masses, tuberculosis, etc. In the thyroid gland, it is generally considered to be a nodule.

● Hyperechoic area of ​​the thyroid gland: calcification, metal, bone calcium. Hyperechoic areas of the thyroid gland are usually due to calcification due to aging, but it is important to distinguish whether it is the entire gland or the situation within the gland. If the entire gland has a hyperechoic area, then malignancy must be considered.

● Anechoic: Generally represents a fluid area, seen in thyroid cysts, etc.

To confirm the thyroid condition, the following examinations are also required:

◆ Thyroid B-ultrasound examination: B-ultrasound examination can understand the basic condition of the thyroid gland, discover the size and echo of nodules, and show whether there are nodules. If nodules exist, it can be understood whether the nodules are solid, cystic or mixed lesions.

◆ Thyroid function test: Thyroid function test mainly includes total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3)/free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroid globulin antibody (Anti-TG, TGA) and other tests.

◆ Neck X-ray examination: Small or sand-like calcifications on the nodules may be sand bodies of papillary carcinoma. Large and irregular calcifications may be seen in degenerative nodular thyroid or thyroid carcinoma.

◆ Thyroid radionuclide scan: Based on the nodule's ability to absorb radionuclides, it is divided into "hot nodules" and "cold nodules". "Hot nodules" are functional autonomous thyroid nodules, which are almost always benign; "cold nodules" may be cancerous.

◆ Thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology examination: This examination is simple and safe, and is very helpful in distinguishing the benign or malignant nature of the disease.

Thyroid disease is called a "time bomb on the neck", and timely treatment is the key!

The thyroid gland is the largest endocrine system in the human body. Diseases and other abnormalities can interfere with the normal function of the thyroid gland, causing various abnormalities in the body, leading to endocrine disorders, and can cause a variety of serious physical complications, such as diabetes, heart disease, infertility, sexual dysfunction, etc. Experts remind: Once a thyroid disease is diagnosed, scientific and effective treatment should be carried out immediately to avoid the deterioration of the disease as much as possible.