Color Doppler ultrasonographic (US) features of 28 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis were evaluated with regard to echo and color-flow patterns. Correlation of color-flow pattern with thyroid function was performed.
All 28 patients showed varying degrees of diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland and a heterogeneous echo pattern. Color-flow pattern of increased blood flow in Hashimoto's thyroiditis was variable from minimal focal flow to diffuse multifocal
flow.
Low to moderate, focally increased blood flow was seen in 26 patients (92.8%). Of these 26 patients, 24 patients showed subclinical hypothyroidism or euthyroidism. Two patients who showed hyperthyroidism showed several pieces of focally increased
color
flow, which was noted during both systole and diastole. Diffuse, multifical color-flow, throughout thyroid gland was seen in two patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis; one with clinical typothyroidism and the other with subclinical
hypothyroidism.
Even though Hashimoto's thyroiditis showed variable color-flow patterns, we believe that heterogenous parenchymal echo pattern with low or moderately increased flow is a rather characteristic feature of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and we suggest
that
color
Doppier US provides additional information for evaluation of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
|