Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound: An Effective Method for Noninvasive Diagnosis of Mummified Thyroid Nodules

Figure 7

(a) A 44-year-old female was found a thyroid cystic nodule in a health examination, and it was classified as TI-RADS 2. (b) 1.5 years later, the patient felt neck pain, and also a mass with palpation. Ultrasound examination showed that the cyst was enlarged with the maximum diameter 40 mm, and dense punctate echoes could be seen in the capsule cavity, which was considered as hemorrhage in the cyst. (c) 2 years later, ultrasound showed that the nodule shrank and became solid inside, and the maximum diameter of the nodule was 16 mm. Arrows show a hypoechoic halo around nodules, and the margins of nodule were still clear. (d) 3 years later, the nodule was even smaller, and the hypoechoic halo around the nodule was still visible (arrows), but the margin became blurred. The triangle pointed to coarse calcifications, suggesting that necrotic substances exist for a long time. Echo attenuation behind the nodule suggested that fibrosis in the nodule might be serious.