DIAGNOSTIC USEFULNESS OF THYROID ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN ATROPHIC THYROIDITIS

An abnormal thyroid echographic pattern, characterized by a diffuse lo w thyroid echogenicity associated with a reduced thyroid volume, was f ound in 53 of 55 (96%) patients with atrophic thyroiditis. In 10 of th ese patients, the ultrasound examination was diagnostic for thyroid at rophy, whereas the scintiscan had no abnormality. In only two cases wa s the reverse observed, ie, absent thyroid radioiodine uptake and no e vidence of abnormality in the ultrasound examination. Six out of 24 (2 5%) patients with thyroperoxidase antibody titers less than or equal t o 1:1600 and 4 of 31 (13%) patients with titers less than or equal to 1:6400 had a normal thyroid scintiscan in the presence of an abnormal thyroid echographic pattern. Thus, thyroid echography can be considere d the first morphological procedure in patients with hypothyroidism du e to atrophic thyroiditis, and thyroid scintiscan can be used to confi rm the diagnosis when other results are not definitive. (C) 1994 John Wiley and Sons, Inc.