Introduction: Patients suffering from hypothyroidism frequently present with diffuse swellings of the thyroid gland. This is a result of compensatory hypertrophy of the thyroid gland in order to trap more iodine for hormone generation. Ultrasonography is a part of routine evaluation of the thyroid gland and in this particular study we shall be evaluating the specific ultrasonological features associated with hypothyroid goitres.
Aim: To analyze specific ultrasonological findings of goitrogenous lesions associated with hypothyroidism and assess the frequency of their appearance.
Materials and Methods: 80 patients presenting with goitrogenous lesions, in the hypothyroid state attending the Outpatient department in a teaching hospital in South Karnataka were selected. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Detailed history taking and examination were done. Informed and written consent was taken from the patients before participating in the study. Patients selected were in the hypothyroid state as noted in the thyroid function tests, underwent ultrasonological analysis of the lesions. The findings were analyzed and the frequency of their appearance were assessed.
Results: 80 patients were included in this study. Significant correlations were found between radiological diagnosis and echotexture, vascularity and TIRADS scores of the lesions. The most common diagnosis were thyroiditis, multinodular goiter and colloidal goiter.
Conclusions: When evaluating goiters in the hypothyroid state, thyroiditis was noted to be the most common diagnosis, followed by multinodular goiter and colloidal goiter. Heterogenous echotexture and increased vascularity are common findings in hypothyroid lesions, particularly thyroiditis and multinodular goiter. In our study, we also noted patients with thyroiditis to have low risk of malignant transformation, while a higher risk was seen in patients with multinodular goiter. Ultrasonography is a highly sensitive, reproducible, non-invasive and cost effective diagnostic tool for thyroid lesions.
Keywords: Thyroid, ultrasound, Goiter, Hypothyroidism.
