- When is the lump severe?
- 1. Hypoechoic lump in the breast
- 2. Hypoechoic nodule in the thyroid
- 3. Hypoechoic nodule in the liver
- How the treatment is done
The hypoechoic nodule, or hypoechogenic, is one that is visualized through imaging exams, such as ultrasonography, and that indicates a low-density lesion, usually formed by liquids, fat or light dense tissues, for example.
Being hypoechoic does not confirm whether the nodule is malignant or benign, because in the ultrasound exam the word "echogenicity" indicates only the ease with which the ultrasound signals pass through the body's structures and organs. Thus, hyperechoic structures tend to have a higher density, while hypoechoic or anechoic structures have little or no density.
Nodules are lesions formed by the accumulation of tissues or liquids that measure more than 1 cm in diameter and are generally rounded and similar to lumps. They can have the following characteristics:
- Cyst: appears when the nodule has liquid content inside. Check out the main types of cyst and when they can be severe. Solid: when its contents contain solid or thick structures, such as tissues, or a liquid that has a considerable density, with many cells or other elements inside; Mixed: it can appear when the same node includes liquid and solid structures in its content.
A lump can appear on the skin, subcutaneous tissue or any other organ of the body, being common to be detected in the breast, thyroid, ovaries, uterus, liver, lymph nodes or joints, for example. Sometimes, when superficial, they can be palpated, while in many cases, only exams with ultrasound or tomography can detect.
When is the lump severe?
Generally, the nodule has characteristics that may indicate that it is serious or not, however, there is no rule for everyone, requiring the doctor's evaluation to observe not only the test result, but also the physical examination, presence of symptoms or risks that the person may present.
Some characteristics that can raise suspicion of the nodule vary according to the organ in which it is located, and can be:
1. Hypoechoic lump in the breast
Most of the time, the lump in the breast is not a cause for concern, and benign lesions such as fibroadenoma or simple cyst, for example, are common. Cancer is usually suspected when there are changes in the shape or size of the breast, in the presence of a family history or when the lump has malignant characteristics, such as being hard, adhering to neighboring tissues or when there are many blood vessels, for example.
However, if a breast tumor is suspected, the doctor will indicate a puncture or biopsy to determine the diagnosis. See more on how to know if the breast lump is malignant.
2. Hypoechoic nodule in the thyroid
The fact that it is hypoechogenic increases the chances of malignancy in a thyroid nodule, however, this characteristic alone is not enough to determine whether it is a cancer or not, requiring medical evaluation.
Most of the time, the tumor is usually investigated with puncture when they reach more than 1 cm in diameter, or 0.5 cm when the nodule has malignant characteristics, such as the hypoechoic nodule, presence of microcalcifications, enlargement of blood vessels, infiltration in the neighboring tissues or when it is taller than wide in the cross-sectional view.
Nodules should also be punctured in people at high risk for malignancy, such as those who have had radiation exposure in childhood, who have genes associated with cancer or who have a personal or family history of cancer, for example. However, it is important that the physician evaluates each case individually, as there are specificities and the need to calculate the risk or benefit of the procedures, in each situation.
Learn how to identify the thyroid nodule, what tests to do and how to treat.
3. Hypoechoic nodule in the liver
The hepatic nodules have variable characteristics, therefore, the presence of a hypoechoic nodule is not sufficient to indicate whether it is benign or malignant, being necessary that the doctor makes a more detailed assessment, according to each case, to determine.
Generally, the lump in the liver is investigated for the presence of malignancy with imaging tests, such as tomography or resonance, whenever it is larger than 1 cm or when it presents constant growth or change in appearance. In some cases, the doctor may indicate a biopsy to confirm or not whether the lump is severe. Know when the liver biopsy is indicated and how it is done.
How the treatment is done
The hypoechoic nodule does not always need to be removed because, in most cases, it is benign and requires only observation. The doctor will determine how often the nodule will be monitored, with tests such as ultrasound or tomography, for example, which can be every 3 months, 6 months or 1 year.
However, if the nodule starts to show suspicious characteristics of malignancy, such as rapid growth, adherence to neighboring tissues, changes in characteristic or even when it becomes very large or causes symptoms, such as pain or compression of nearby organs, the performance of a biopsy, puncture or surgery to remove the nodule. Find out how the surgery for breast lump removal is done and how recovery is.
