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Inspissated colloid in a thyroid nodule

Case contributed by Matt A. Morgan
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Thyroid nodule seen incidentally on chest CT

Patient Data

Age: 55 years
Gender: Female
ultrasound

There is a brightly echogenic focus in a round-well marginated hypoechoic nodule. The echogenic focus demonstrates comet-tail artifact / reverberation artifact.

Case Discussion

Inspissated colloid and microcalcifications in a thyroid nodule can sometimes be confused on ultrasound. Comet-tail artifact can be useful to help make the diagnosis of inspissated colloid. Unlike microcalcifications, inspissated colloid does not confer increased malignancy risk to a thyroid nodule.

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