OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography for diffuse thyroid disease accompanied with suspicious nodules.

METHODSA total of 148 patients with diffuse thyroid diseases accompanied with suspicious nodules underwent both ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided biopsy, and the results were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSAmong these 148 patients, 44 had Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 104 had Graves'disease. Totally 151 suspicious lesions were detected by ultrasonography, among which 48 lesions were pathologically confirmed to be benign and 103 malignant. Thirteen malignant lesions were diagnosed as benign by pre-operative ultrasonography, which were confirmed to be malignant after the surgical resection due to other suspected or confirmed malignant lesions. The detection rate of diffuse thyroid disease accompanied with thyroid cancer by per-operative ultrasound was 68.21%, and the misdiagnosis rate was 31.79%. The gender of patients(P=0.36), number of nodules(P=0.08), and blood flow types in lesions(P=0.080) had no significant difference between the benign and malignant groups, whereas internal echo(P=0.040), margin(P=0.000), shape(P=0.001), and calcification features(P=0.000)showed significant differences. Up to 80.74% of the lesions with hyperechoic calcification were malignant.

CONCLUSIONSGray-scale sonographic features are helpful for the differential diagnosis of nodules in patients with diffuse thyroid diseases. Nodules in the isthmus and those accompanied with multiple nodules should be noticed.

Calcinosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Thyroid Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Thyroid Nodule ; Ultrasonography

Autoantibodies ; blood ; immunology ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Radiography ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Thyroid Diseases ; blood ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Thyroid Function Tests ; methods ; Thyroid Gland ; diagnostic imaging ; immunology ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood

OBJECTIVETo analyse ultrasonographic mapping of the thyroid lesions, so as to summarize ultrasonographic characteristics, and improve the accuracy rate of preoperative diagnosis for thyroid lesions.

METHODSThe clinical data were analyzed for 1700 patients with different thyroid lesions who were treated between January 2002 and December 2005. The appearance of gray scale and colour Doppler sonography for the lesions was prospectively studied, the different blood flow index was determined. All patients underwent surgery and had histopathologic diagnosis at Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The criterion of diagnosis for benign lesions were (1) multinodular; (2) the presence of peripheral halo; (3) regular and defined margins, intranodular uniform echogenicity; (4) macrocalcification; (5) the degree of blood flow was I or IV grade, the distribution of blood flow was I type; (6) the blood resistance index was over 0. 6, the blood peak value speed was below 12 cm/s. The criterion of diagnosis for malignant lesions were (1) single nodular; (2) irregular and partly defined margins; (3) intranodular irregular hypoechogenicity; (4) microcalcification; (5) the degree of blood flow was II or III grade, the distribution of blood flow was II type; (6) the presence of metastatic lymph node in region; (7) the blood resistance index was below 0. 6, the blood peak value speed was over 12 cm/s.

RESULTSOf all cases, 1284 cases were benign and 416 cases malignant. The accuracy rate of gray scale sonography for benign and malignant thyroid lesions was respectively 80. 0% and 75.0%. The accuracy rate of ultrasound diagnosis for benign and malignant thyroid lesions was respectively 86.0% and 82.0%, total accuracy rate for thyroid lesion was 85.0%.

CONCLUSIONSGray scale sonography was very important to distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions of thyroid tumor, the accuracy rate was greatly improved with colour Doppler sonography, but the determination of blood flow index is no help to differentiating between benign and malignant lesions of thyroid tumor. The accurate rate of ultrasound for the diagnosis of thyroid lesions is high, it is the first choice measure in preoperative diagnosis for thyroid lesions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thyroid Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Thyroid Nodule ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) was founded as an affiliated subspecialty society of Korean Society of Radiology in 2010. The KSThR was originated from the thyroid radiology research committee which had started within the Korean Society of Neuroradiology in 2005. In the beginning, the research committee was organized to make a clinical guideline for ultrasonography (US) diagnosis and US-guided biopsy of thyroid nodules to cope with the rapidly increasing role of US imaging and the increasing burden of US-guided biopsy for thyroid nodules in the early 2000s. The KSThR proposed a subspecialty of thyroid radiology which is a medical subspecialty dealing with the imaging-based diagnosis and interventional treatment of thyroid disease. The KSThR has made an effort to make an advance in the research of thyroid imaging and intervention, which could provide scientific evidences for imaging-based management of nodular thyroid disease and thyroid cancers. The KSThR has published clinical guidelines of diagnostic imaging and interventional management of thyroid nodules, which included the US diagnosis and imaging-based management, fine-needle aspiration, core needle biopsy, and radiofrequency ablation therapy in thyroid nodules. The KSThR has a mission to play a leading role in the research and clinical practice of imaging-based management of thyroid disease, and the KSThR will make an advance in collaboration with Korean Thyroid Association.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Catheter Ablation ; Cooperative Behavior ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule ; Ultrasonography

In recent years, the incidence of thyroid diseases has increased significantly and ultrasound examination is the first choice for the diagnosis of thyroid diseases. At the same time, the level of medical image analysis based on deep learning has been rapidly improved. Ultrasonic image analysis has made a series of milestone breakthroughs, and deep learning algorithms have shown strong performance in the field of medical image segmentation and classification. This article first elaborates on the application of deep learning algorithms in thyroid ultrasound image segmentation, feature extraction, and classification differentiation. Secondly, it summarizes the algorithms for deep learning processing multimodal ultrasound images. Finally, it points out the problems in thyroid ultrasound image diagnosis at the current stage and looks forward to future development directions. This study can promote the application of deep learning in clinical ultrasound image diagnosis of thyroid, and provide reference for doctors to diagnose thyroid disease.
Humans ; Algorithms ; Deep Learning ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Thyroid Diseases/diagnostic imaging* ; Ultrasonography

INTRODUCTIONThis study analyses the diagnostic value of ultrasonography (US) detection for calcification in thyroid nodules.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe analysed the preoperative US findings and clinical characteristics of 577 malignant and 3434 benign thyroid patients who underwent surgery in our hospital.

RESULTSThe malignant rate in patients with microcalcification hyperechoic and tiny calcification foci ≤2 mm in diameter was significantly higher than the non-calcification and other calcification group (P <0.001). The malignant rate in single calcifi cation nodule was signifi cantly higher than that in multiple nodule group (P <0.01). Most of the patients (37/39) with lymph node calcification were malignant. The malignant rate of calcification and microcalcification was significantly higher in patients <45 years old than in older patients (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompared with other calcifications, microcalcification should be a better predictor of thyroid carcinoma. Malignancy should be highly suspected in patients with single calcification nodule, especially with lymph node calcification. Patients younger than 45 years of age with calcification or microcalcification have a greater risk for thyroid carcinoma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Calcinosis ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Diseases ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Thyroid Nodule ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography ; Young Adult

To assess the pharyngeal presentations and the diagnostic value of thyroid SPECT and thyroid fine needle aspiratory biopsy (FNAB) in subacute thyroiditis (SAT) as seen initially in ENT department, 30 patients, during the course of SAT, were examined for pharyngeal symptoms and tested for serum T3, T4 level. The thyroid SPECT imaging or thyroid FNAB were performed. Our results showed that, of the 30 patients, 21 had sore throat of various degrees, and 9 had abnormal sensation of throat. Six were diagnosed as having SAT by only SPECT, in the remaining 24, the final diagnoses was established by SPECT combined with FNAB. Two of them were finally diagnosed as having SAT by trial treatment with oral prednisone. It is concluded that sore throat and abnormal sensation of pharynx are the important presentations of SAT, and thyroid SPECT imaging and thyroid FNAB are valuable in diagnosing SAT.
Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pharyngeal Diseases ; diagnosis ; Pharyngitis ; diagnosis ; Thyroid Gland ; diagnostic imaging ; Thyroiditis, Subacute ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

With the generalized use of highly sensitive thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroid hormone assays, most thyroid function tests (TFTs) are straightforward to interpret and confirm the clinical impressions of thyroid diseases. However, in some patients, TFT results can be perplexing because the clinical picture is not compatible with the tests or because TSH and free T4 are discordant with each other. Optimizing the interpretation of TFTs requires a complete knowledge of thyroid hormone homeostasis, an understanding of the range of tests available to the clinician, and the ability to interpret biochemical abnormalities in the context of the patient's clinical thyroid status. The common etiologic factors causing puzzling TFT results include intercurrent illness (sick euthyroid syndrome), drugs, alteration in normal physiology (pregnancy), hypothalamic-pituitary diseases, rare genetic disorders, and assay interference. Sick euthyroid syndrome is the most common cause of TFT abnormalities encountered in the hospital. In hypothalamic-pituitary diseases, TSH levels are unreliable. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see marginally high TSH levels in central hypothyroidism. Drugs may be the culprit of TFT abnormalities through various mechanisms. Patients with inappropriate TSH levels need a differential diagnosis between TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma and resistance to thyroid hormone. Sellar magnetic resonance imaging, serum α-subunit levels, serum sex hormone-binding globulin levels, a thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test, trial of somatostatin analogues, and TR-β sequencing are helpful for the diagnosis, but it may be challenging. TFTs should be interpreted based on the clinical context of the patient, not just the numbers and reference ranges of the tests, to avoid various pitfalls of TFTs and unnecessary costly evaluations and therapies.
Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Errors ; Euthyroid Sick Syndromes ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism ; Hypothyroidism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Physiology ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Rare Diseases ; Reference Values ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; Somatostatin ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotropin ; Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone

Alveolar Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Radiography ; Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1 ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology

STUDY DESIGN: Case control study. PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and degree of asymptomatic cervical and lumbar facet joint arthritis. We retrospectively reviewed 500 computed tomography (CT) scans of cervical facet joints obtained from 50 subjects. Moreover, 500 lumbar facet joints obtained from an additional 50 subjects were reviewed. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Numerous reports in the literature indicate that joint arthritis is a major source of axial neck and low back pain. However, the diagnostic value of this condition, based on degenerative changes seen on radiological studies, remains controversial because significant imaging findings may not correlate with corresponding symptoms. The CT scan is a sensitive method for facet joint evaluation and may reveal degenerative abnormalities. Previous studies have described the prevalence of facet arthropathy in symptomatic patients, according to radiological findings; however, no study to date has assessed its prevalence in asymptomatic patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the neck and abdominal CT scans of patients had been examined for non-spinal pathologies (i.e., thyroid disease, rule out cancer, ascites). Electronic medical records were reviewed to exclude patients with histories of either neck or back pain. Arthritis severity was graded using a previously published four-point CT scale. RESULTS: The prevalence of asymptomatic cervical facet arthritis (grade 1–3) was 33% (grade 1, 19%; grade 2, 11%; and grade 3, 3%). Among asymptomatic patients, 37% had scalable lumbar facet join arthritis (grade 1, 24%; grade 2, 9%; and grade 3, 4%). There was a statistically significant difference (chi-square test, p<0.0001) in the number of older individuals with arthritic degeneration at the cervical and lumbar levels compared with that of younger individuals. The C6–C7 and L5–S1 levels were the most likely to show arthritic changes. CONCLUSIONS: Arthritic changes to the cervical and lumbar facet joints are prevalent among patients, and in some cases are asymptomatic. These findings were more common in older patients and at lower spinal levels.
Arthritis ; Back Pain ; Case-Control Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Electronic Health Records ; Humans ; Joints ; Low Back Pain ; Methods ; Neck ; Pathology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Diseases ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Zygapophyseal Joint