From the Research
No, a thyroid adenoma is not a vascular tumor. A thyroid adenoma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor that develops from the follicular cells of the thyroid gland. These tumors are characterized by an overgrowth of normal thyroid tissue that forms a discrete nodule within the thyroid gland. Unlike vascular tumors, which originate from blood vessel cells and are rich in blood vessels, thyroid adenomas develop from epithelial thyroid tissue. Thyroid adenomas are typically well-encapsulated, solitary nodules that function independently from normal thyroid regulation. They may be classified as functioning (producing thyroid hormones) or non-functioning. While thyroid adenomas do receive blood supply like all living tissues, their fundamental cellular origin and structure are not vascular in nature. This distinction is important for proper diagnosis and treatment approaches, as management strategies differ significantly between vascular tumors and thyroid adenomas.
Some studies have investigated the role of vascular flow in thyroid nodules, including adenomas. For example, a meta-analysis published in 2016 found that vascular flow on color Doppler sonography may not accurately predict malignancy in thyroid nodules 1. Another study published in 2020 evaluated the use of CD61 immunohistochemistry in identifying vascular invasion in follicular thyroid neoplasms, including adenomas, and found that CD61-expressing platelets may serve as a marker for vascular invasion in follicular thyroid carcinoma, but not in adenomas 2.
Key characteristics of thyroid adenomas include:
- Benign (non-cancerous) tumor
- Develops from follicular cells of the thyroid gland
- Typically well-encapsulated and solitary
- Functions independently from normal thyroid regulation
- May be functioning (producing thyroid hormones) or non-functioning
- Receives blood supply like all living tissues, but fundamental cellular origin and structure are not vascular in nature
In terms of diagnosis and treatment, it is essential to distinguish between thyroid adenomas and vascular tumors, as management strategies differ significantly between the two. For example, a study published in 2001 used 3-D reconstruction to analyze vascular and capsular invasion in thyroid follicular carcinoma and found that most vascular invasion and capsular invasion may not be true invasions but pre-invasive lesions 3. Another study published in 2016 investigated potential markers of malignancy in Hürthle cell tumors, including Ki67 and GRIM-19, and found that these markers may correlate with malignancy in Hürthle cell tumors 4.
Overall, the evidence suggests that thyroid adenomas are not vascular tumors, and their diagnosis and treatment should be approached accordingly. The most recent and highest quality study, published in 2020, supports this conclusion 2.