B-MODE SONOGRAPHY AND MODERN DOPPLER SONO GRAPHY IN THYROID AND PARATHYROID DISEASES

Color-coded duplex sonography is the main innovation in diagnostic ult rasound in recent years. It allows quantification of tissue vascularit y and appreciation of vascular morphology. Due to the unique thyroid h ypervascularity in Graves' disease this diagnosis can be made with col or Doppler sonography alone. The decrease of vascularity during the co urse of disease is a relevant parameter throughout the follow-up. Hype rvascularity is also observed within areas of inflammatory infiltratio n in thyroiditis, but the level is lower than in Graves' disease. Sono graphic differentiation of benign from malignant thyroid nodules is no t possible yet. Color-coded duplex sonography is not useful in the ini tial detection of parathyroid masses, but may be helpful in distinguis hing parathyroid lesions from other cervical masses.