The term "diffuse changes of the thyroid gland" is a term of ultrasound diagnostics and indicates only that the whole structure of breast tissue to change their ability to reflect sound (echogenicity), then there are some general changes encompassed the entire thyroid gland.
What can be seen during ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland
Ultrasonography (US) - a method of obtaining images of internal organs using ultrasound. During thyroid ultrasound
You can determine the size of the thyroid gland, the structure of its tissues (including the presence of cysts, tumors and nodes), the degree of tissue density, which says echogenicity, ie the ability to reflect sound.
Thyroid ultrasound is performed to detect tumors and nodes cancer, inflammation, cancer changes for violations of its functions (with a decrease or increase function - hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism). This can be seen on ultrasound early signs of the thyroid gland, which allows the use of this method, including for routine inspections.
Description of the thyroid gland normally looks something like this: "the thyroid gland of normal shape, positioned correctly, its smooth contours and clear, ehostruktura uniform, is not changed, no knots; lymph nodes
Lymph nodes - what keeps our immune system
submandibular, subclavian and neck areas are not increased. "
The structure of the thyroid gland can be detected diffuse (spread to the whole gland) and local (small areas) changes. Local changes of the thyroid gland often represent units of different sizes, sometimes those that still can not be detected during the inspection of the patient's endocrinologist.
In the US, in most cases you can distinguish benign from malignant thyroid.
Recent distinguishes decreased echogenicity, the heterogeneity of the tissue structure and tissue deposition of calcium salts. The dimensions of such a node can be different, including very small. Spend ultrasound and after removal of the tumor in order to avoid the resumption of growth (recurrence).
Today, with the availability of modern ultrasound equipment and an experienced quite possible accurate diagnosis of various diseases of the thyroid gland.
Diffuse changes thyroid inflammatory diseases
Most often diffuse changes of the thyroid gland cause inflammation of the gland - Chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis are usually, that is caused by an allergy to the tissues of the thyroid gland), reveal that during an inspection of an endocrinologist is not always possible.
The thyroid gland is at the same time increased in all areas, including increased isthmus. Typical ultrasonographic evidence of thyroiditis are varying degrees of reduction of tissue echogenicity cancer and diffuse (spread to the whole gland) inhomogeneity of tissue - from fine-grained to coarse much more.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis can occur with various changes in the thyroid gland. It may just be a diffuse changes in breast tissue with an increase in its dimensions, with precise contours and typical ultrasound signs of chronic thyroiditis (diffuse form).
Diffuse changes may be alternated with one or more clearly demarcated nodes with the same internal structure as that of the surrounding tissue site; in this case, when there is a large gland assembly shape can be altered (diffuse nodular form). Finally, against thyroid diffuse changes may be identified components of different structure and echogenicity.
On ultrasound can distinguish chronic autoimmune thyroiditis
Autoimmune thyroiditis - thyroid disease
by multinodular goiter, which is of great importance because of the accurate diagnosis depends on the tactics of treatment. Multinodular goiter removed surgically, and chronic autoimmune thyroiditis treated conservatively at first.
Diffuse changes thyroid in diffuse toxic goiter
Diffuse changes of the thyroid gland may be in diffuse toxic goiter (Graves' disease), they manifest themselves in the form of a uniform increase it, sometimes in two - three times compared with the norm. But the degree of thyroid enlargement
Increase in thyroid - that underlies the disease
often does not correspond to the severity of hyperthyroidism. For example, in men with significant manifestations of hyperthyroidism the thyroid gland may be increased slightly. The structure of the breast tissue is generally homogeneous - normal or slightly more dense, with increased echogenicity. Sometimes the background of diffuse changes may occur secondary nodules, cysts and calcium deposits (calcifications).
Ultrasound - a fairly accurate method to identify the various changes in the thyroid gland
The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones
. But estimates of US data only physician in conjunction with other data: clinical and laboratory findings.
Galina Romanenko