Original report - Sonographic appearance of focal thyroiditis

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to report the sonographic appearanc e of focal thyroid nodules that prove to be lymphocytic thyroiditis on fine -needle aspiration. CONCLUSION. In a patient population undergoing sonography for palpable nodu lar disease without known thyroiditis, focal nodules of thyroiditis had a w ide variety of appearances. They most commonly appeared as solid hyperechoi c nodules with ill-defined margins. However.;he echogenicity was variable, and calcification and cystic-appearing regions were also noted. The vascula rity of these nodules as assessed with color Doppler and power Doppler sono graphy also varied widely. Biopsy of these lesions is still necessary becau se there are no sonographic features that can reliably diagnose these lesio ns as thyroiditis and differentiate them from other lesions.