Department of Radiology, Kangnam General Hospital Public Corporation Department of Radiology, Choong Ang Gil Hospital1
ABSTRACT
Color Dopler ultrasonographic(US) features of 28 patiens with Hashimato's thyroiditis were evaluated withregard to echo and color-flow patterns. Correlation of color-flow pattern with thyroid function was performed. All28 patients showed varying degress of diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland and a heterogeneous echo pattern.Color-flow pattern of increased blood flow. Low to moderate, focally increased blood flow was seen in 26patients(92.8%). Of these 26 patients, 24 patients showed subclinical hypothyroidism or euthyroidism. Two patientswho showed hyperthyroidism showed several pieces of focally increased color flow, Which was noted during bothsystole and diastole. Diffuse, multifical color-flow throughout thyroid gland was seen in two patients withHashimato's thyroiditis; one with clinical hypothyroidism and the other with subclinical hypothyroidism. Eventhough Hashimoto's thyroiditis showed variable color-flow patterns, we believe that heterogenous parenchymal echopattern with low or moderately increased flow is a rather characteristic feature of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, andwe suggest that color Doppler US provides additional information for evaluation of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.