Thyroid nodule: Meaning in a Radiology Report

Thyroid nodule

Also written as: thyroid lesion, thyroid incidentaloma

A thyroid nodule is a lump or spot in the thyroid gland in the neck. Thyroid nodules are very common, and most are benign.

Seen on: Ultrasound, CT

How it reads in a report

A 14 mm solid hypoechoic thyroid nodule with smooth margins in the right lobe (ACR TI-RADS 4).

What it means

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck that makes hormones controlling your metabolism. A nodule is an area that looks different from the rest of the gland. It can be filled with fluid, solid, or a mix of both. Ultrasound shows nodules best and describes what they are made of, how dark they look, their shape and edges, and any tiny bright spots.

When it matters

Thyroid nodules are found in many adults, more often in women and with age, and the great majority are not cancer. Doctors decide what to do from the ultrasound features, often scored with TI-RADS, together with the size. Many need nothing further. Some get a follow-up ultrasound, and some a fine needle biopsy, where a thin needle takes a sample of cells. Blood tests check thyroid function.

Questions to ask your doctor

What TI-RADS score does this nodule have, and what does it mean?
Do its size and score call for a biopsy or a follow-up ultrasound?
Should my thyroid hormone levels be checked?

General information, not medical advice. What a finding means for you depends on your symptoms, your history and the images themselves, so talk your results through with a doctor.