Color Doppler measurement of blood flow in the inferior thyroid artery in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases

Purpose: The aim of the study is to find out whether the measurement of pea k systolic velocity in the inferior thyroid artery (ITA) is a valuable para meter to differentiate autoimmune thyroid diseases (hyper-, normo- or hypof unctional) and to evaluate the efficacy of medical treatment. Material and methods: The ITA of 31 patients (eight with Graves' disease, 23 with subcli nical hypothyroidism) was examined with color Doppler and pulsed Doppler. T he final diagnosis was obtained by citology and by hormonal and antibodies assays. The patients were monitorized by ultrasound for a period of 8 month s. Results: In all the patients with Graves' disease the peak systolic velo city was always over 150 cm/s, while in other autoimmune thyroiditis the pe ak systolic velocity was within the normal range, and never exceeding 65 cm /s. In the first group, the measurement taken in the ITA showed also the ef ficacy of the pharmacological treatment earlier and more reliably than the color Doppler pattern obtained in the parenchyma. Conclusions: The color Do ppler measurement of the ITA seems to be a promising technique with low-cos t and easy approach. In our experience, the color Doppler of the ITA could have a clinical role in the differential diagnosis of diffuse thyroid disea ses and in the follow-up of the Graves' disease during medical treatment. ( C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.