Positive predictive values of sonographic features of solid thyroid nodule

AimThe purpose of this study was to assess the positive predictive value of the suspicious sonographic features of solid nodules of the thyroid.Materials and methodsAfter approval by our institutional review board, we evaluated 594 sonographically detected nodules on which fine needle aspiration biopsy had been performed from January to December 2005. Among these, pure cystic lesions and inadequate pathologic results were excluded. The remaining 530 solid thyroid nodules were analyzed by two radiologists. Each lesion was classified based on four sonographic features that suggested malignancy: microcalcifications; an irregular or microlobulated margin; marked hypoechogenicity; and a shape that was taller than wide. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the each sonographic feature were calculated.ResultsFinal pathologic results showed that 97 (18.3%) of 530 nodules were malignant. The positive predictive values for malignancy in each sonographic feature were microcalcifications, 38.6% (39/101); an irregular or microlobulated margin, 28.2% (70/248); marked hypoechogenecity, 49.4% (38/77); taller than wide shape, 59.8% (49/82). In terms of relative risk, microcalcification [P<.01, relative risk (RR)=3.115, 95% CI: 1.724–5.628], hypoechogenecity (P<.01, RR=2.510, 95% CI: 1.290–4.881). The shape of nodule which was taller than wide (P<.01, RR=7.624, 95% CI: 4.156–13.986) revealed the highest predictive sonographic finding suggesting malignancy. However, margin is the least significant feature of detection of thyroid malignancy (P=.27, RR=1.395, 95% CI: 0.777–2.505).ConclusionThe three sonographic features of solid thyroid nodule, that is, microcalcifications, marked hypoechogenecity, and a taller than wide shape are meaningful findings in the diagnosis of thyroid malignancy. The shape that was taller than wide was the most reliable sonographic feature for predicting malignancy.     

Clinicoradiological Characteristics in the Differential Diagnosis of Follicular-Patterned Lesions of the Thyroid: A Multicenter Cohort Study

ObjectivePreoperative differential diagnosis of follicular-patterned lesions is challenging. This multicenter cohort study investigated the clinicoradiological characteristics relevant to the differential diagnosis of such lesions.Materials and MethodsFrom June to September 2015, 4787 thyroid nodules (≥ 1.0 cm) with a final diagnosis of benign follicular nodule (BN, n = 4461), follicular adenoma (FA, n = 136), follicular carcinoma (FC, n = 62), or follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC, n = 128) collected from 26 institutions were analyzed. The clinicoradiological characteristics of the lesions were compared among the different histological types using multivariable logistic regression analyses. The relative importance of the characteristics that distinguished histological types was determined using a random forest algorithm.ResultsCompared to BN (as the control group), the distinguishing features of follicular-patterned neoplasms (FA, FC, and FVPTC) were patient’s age (odds ratio [OR], 0.969 per 1-year increase), lesion diameter (OR, 1.054 per 1-mm increase), presence of solid composition (OR, 2.255), presence of hypoechogenicity (OR, 2.181), and presence of halo (OR, 1.761) (all p < 0.05). Compared to FA (as the control), FC differed with respect to lesion diameter (OR, 1.040 per 1-mm increase) and rim calcifications (OR, 17.054), while FVPTC differed with respect to patient age (OR, 0.966 per 1-year increase), lesion diameter (OR, 0.975 per 1-mm increase), macrocalcifications (OR, 3.647), and non-smooth margins (OR, 2.538) (all p < 0.05). The five important features for the differential diagnosis of follicular-patterned neoplasms (FA, FC, and FVPTC) from BN are maximal lesion diameter, composition, echogenicity, orientation, and patient’s age. The most important features distinguishing FC and FVPTC from FA are rim calcifications and macrocalcifications, respectively.ConclusionAlthough follicular-patterned lesions have overlapping clinical and radiological features, the distinguishing features identified in our large clinical cohort may provide valuable information for preoperative distinction between them and decision-making regarding their management.     

"Focal thyroid inferno" on color Doppler ultrasonography: A specific feature of focal Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Purpose

To evaluate color-Doppler features predictive of focal Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Materials and methods

A total of 521 patients with 561 thyroid nodules that underwent surgeries or gun biopsies were included in this study. These nodules were divided into three groups: focal Hashimoto's thyroiditis (104 nodules in 101 patients), benignity other than focal Hashimoto's thyroiditis (73 nodules in 70 patients), and malignancy (358 nodules in 350 patients). On color Doppler sonography, four vascularity types were determined as: hypovascularity, marked internal flow, marked peripheral flow and focal thyroid inferno. The χ² test was performed to seek the potential vascularity type with the predictive ability of certain thyroid pathology. Furthermore, the gray-scale features of each nodule were also studied.

Results

The vascularity type I (hypovascularity) was more often seen in focal Hashimoto's thyroiditis than other benignity and malignancy (46% vs. 20.5% and 19%). While the type II (marked internal flow) showed the opposite tendency (26.9% [focal Hashimoto's thyroiditis] vs. 45.2% [other benignity] and 52.8% [malignancy]). However, type III (marked peripheral flow) was unable to predict any thyroid pathology. Importantly, type IV (focal thyroid inferno) was exclusive to focal Hashimoto's thyroiditis. All 8 type IV nodules appeared to be solid, hypoechoic, and well-defined. Using “focal thyroid inferno” as an indicator of FHT, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 7.7% and 100% respectively.

Conclusions

The vascularity type of “focal thyroid inferno” is specific for focal Hashimoto thyroiditis. Recognition of this particular feature may avoid unnecessary interventional procedures for some solid hypoechoic thyroid nodules suspicious of malignancy.     

The sonographic appearances in postpartum thyroiditis.

During the postpartum period about 50% of women with circulating thyroid autoantibodies develop a transient autoimmune thyroiditis. To determine the sonographic appearances in postpartum thyroiditis (PPT), serial ultrasound (US) scans of the thyroid were performed in 135 postpartum women who were divided into three clinical groups: Group 1, 37 antibody positive subjects who developed PPT; Group 2, 28 antibody positive subjects in whom thyroid function remained normal; Group 3, 70 antibody negative controls. Thyroid hypoechogenicity was observed in 14/31 patients (45%) who were scanned between 4 and 8 weeks postpartum and who subsequently developed PPT (Group 1) compared with 4/24 patients (17%) in Group 2 (P less than 0.05) and 1/65 patients (1.5%) in Group 3 (P less than 0.001). In antibody positive patients, the positive predictive value of an abnormal scan during this period was 78%. Between 15 and 25 weeks postpartum thyroid hypoechogenicity was present in 32/37 patients (86%) in Group 1 compared with 11/28 patients (39%) in Group 2 (P less than 0.001) and 2/70 patients (3%) in Group 3 (P less than 0.001). Sonographic abnormality persisted beyond 32 weeks postpartum in 36/41 antibody positive patients (87%) who had exhibited thyroid hypoechogenicity earlier during the study and who had late scans. The characteristic US appearance in PPT is thyroid hypoechogenicity. The role of sonography in the prediction, diagnosis and follow up of patients with PPT is discussed.     

Clinical,mammographic, and ultrasonographic characteristics of diabetic mastopathy: A case series

PurposeDiabetic mastopathy (DMP) is a rare benign breast lesion that mimics breast cancer on ultrasound. Our aims were to identify patient characteristics and imaging features of the disease.MethodsWe conducted retrospective searches of our database for DMP lesions that were pathologically confirmed between January 2004 and November 2015. Mammographic and ultrasound features were reviewed by two experienced radiologists.ResultsTwelve women were identified with 16 lesions. Most patients (83%) had type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and over half were insulin-dependent (58.3%), with a mean time of 16.9 years between the diagnosis of DM and that of DMP. There were negative findings on mammography for 46.7% of the lesions, including larger-sized lesions. Ultrasound revealed various features, including irregular shape (81.3%), indistinct margins (100%), parallel orientation to the chest wall (93.8%), marked hypoechogenicity (87.5%), and posterior shadowing (62.5%).ConclusionsDMP was more common in patients with longstanding DM; in particular, type 2 DM and insulin-dependent patients. DMP lesions were usually occult on mammography, despite the relatively large size of DMP, which may help distinguish DMP from invasive cancer. Ultrasound detected several features that are also present in invasive cancer, making tissue sampling necessary to distinguish these.     

Cimetidine administration decreases radiogenic damage on the thyroid gland in mice

Abstract

Purpose: To study if Cimetidine administration could ameliorate the thyroid damage in external radiation.

Materials and methods: Forty healthy male adult mice were used in the present study. The animals were randomized into four groups. Untreated mice (Group 1) that received 1 mg/kg saline intraperitoneally (IP). Group 2 received a single 10 Gy gamma radiation dose with 1 mg/kg saline IP and group 3 were treated with Cimetidine IP. Group 4 was irradiated 1 hour after treatment with Cimetidine. The serum were assayed for the contents of triiodothyronine (T3), tetraiodothyronine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), Free T4 (FT4) and Cortisol using a radioimmunological technique 7 days following radiation. The thyroid tissue was processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) for histological examination. Data were statistically analyzed using Tukey's post-hoc test and were considered significant at p < 0.05.

Results: External radiation resulted in weight loss and reduction of serum thyroid hormone levels. However, Cimetidine administration prevented marked changes. Histological study showed that Cimetidine injection to irradiated mice minimized the thyroid damage.

Conclusions: These findings suggested that Cimetidine administration 1 hour before radiation exposure was potent in ameliorating the thyroid damages.     

Utilidad de la ecografía en la evaluación de los nódulos tiroideos

ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic capacity of ultrasonography (US) for differentiating between malignant and benign thyroid nodules and its usefulness in obviating unnecessary invasive procedures.Patients and methodsFrom January 2012 through December 2014, a total of 321 fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) procedures were done in 302 patients selected according to the criteria recommended by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology guidelines and the American Thyroid Association guidelines. We analyzed the following characteristics on US: location, size, morphology, contour, consistency, echostructure, echogenicity, calcifications, and vascularization. We used univariate and multivariate analyses to investigate the relationship between the US findings and thyroid cancer.ResultsThe prevalence of malignancy in our study population was 5.92%. The US findings that were significantly associated with a greater probability of malignancy were microcalcifications, central vascularization, and hypoechogenicity. The US findings that were associated with a lower risk of malignancy were areas of colloid degeneration and nodule heterogeneity.ConclusionOur results suggest that decisions about whether to perform FNAB should be based on the presence of suspicious US findings found with our statistic model rather than on the size of the nodule. Thus, unnecessary FNAB procedures on nodules without suspicious US characteristics can be avoided.     

Thyroid isthmus agenesis and its clinical significance in a large-scale multidetector CT-based study

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence and clinical significance of thyroid isthmus agenesis based on multi-detector CT imaging in a large-scale study.MethodsData from 1601 patients who underwent neck multi-detector CT at our institution from January 2015 to March 2016 were included in this retrospective study. The morphology of each patient's thyroid gland was evaluated. We classified thyroid isthmus agenesis into two subgroups according to the thickness of the medial margin: clear-cut type (>4 mm) or tapering-edge type (≤4 mm). Associated thyroid pathologies were also evaluated.ResultsThyroid isthmus agenesis was present in 69 patients (41 males, 28 females), and its incidence was 4.77%. Eleven patients (0.76%) had the clear-cut type and 58 patients (4.01%) had the tapering-edge type. Papillary thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed in 4 patients (5.7% of isthmus agenesis patients). A total of 7 patients underwent thyroid function testing during the course of this study; 1 of these patients presented with borderline hyperthyroidism, and the remaining 6 were in a euthyroid state. The clear-cut type showed a statistically significant narrow gap and a high incidence of pyramidal lobes compared to the tapering-edge type.ConclusionThyroid isthmus agenesis is not a rare developmental anomaly of the thyroid gland on multi-detector CT. Based on the metastatic pathophysiology of differentiated thyroid cancer, more extended indications for lobectomy are expected in differentiated thyroid cancer patients with thyroid isthmus agenesis.     

Comparison of Sonographically Guided Percutaneous Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate Injection with Ethanol Injection in the Treatment of Benign Nonfunctioning Thyroid Nodules

PurposeTo compare the efficacy of percutaneous sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) injection with ethanol injection in the treatment of benign nonfunctioning thyroid nodules.Materials and MethodsThis prospective study included 47 patients with 50 benign thyroid nodules. The lesions were randomly assigned into two groups: 20 in the ethanol arm and 30 in the STS arm. The mean lesion volume was 25.6 mL ± 28.5 (range, 4–122.1 mL) in the ethanol arm and 25.4 mL ± 27 (range, 0.72–129 mL) in the STS arm. One sitting of sclerosant injection was done in 20 lesions, and two injections, three injections, four injections, five injections, six injections, seven injections, and eight sittings of injections were done in 9 lesions, 4 lesions, 8 lesions, 4 lesions, 2 lesions, 2 lesions, and 1 lesion. The mean volumes of the instilled ethanol and STS were 5.3 mL and 7.8 mL, respectively, per sitting. Follow-up sonography was performed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure.ResultsThe final 12-month follow-up lesion volumes were 4.1 mL ± 3.7 (range, 0.3–15.2 mL) in the ethanol group and 4.4 mL ± 5.8 (range, 0.01–29.6 mL) in the STS group (P = .85). The mean volume reduction was 84% and 82.8% in the two groups. No significant adverse effects were seen in either of the two groups.ConclusionsSonographically guided percutaneous ethanol and STS injections are not significantly different from each other in terms of the volume reduction achieved in benign nonfunctioning thyroid nodules.     

Q-Elastosonography of Solid Thyroid Nodules: Assessment of Diagnostic Efficacy and Interobserver Variability in a Large Patient Cohort

Objective

Evaluation of the diagnostic efficacy and interobserver agreement of Q-elastography in the differentiation of benign from malignant thyroid nodules.

Methods

A total of 344 thyroid nodules in 288 patients were examined with grey-scale and colour Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) and Q-elastography by two independent operators. Nodules with hypoechogenicity, poorly defined margins, microcalcifications, and intralesional vascularity were classified as suspicious. Diagnostic performances of CDUS features and Q-elastography for predicting thyroid malignancy were estimated using ROC analysis. Cytology or histopathology was the reference standard. Interobserver agreement in the evaluation of CDUS and Q-elastography was assessed using Cohen's k-statistic.

Results

Q-elastography showed excellent diagnostic performance for the prediction of thyroid malignancy, with sensitivity of 93 % and specificity of 92 % for operator 1 (best cutoff at 2.02), and sensitivity of 84 % and specificity of 79 % for operator 2 (best cutoff at 1.86). Performance of Q-elastography was superior to that of CDUS. Reproducibility of the findings was excellent for both Q-elastography and CDUS features as assessed with Cohen's k, which was highest for strain ratio measurements (0.95) and lowest for the echogenicity score (0.83).

Conclusions

Q-elastography showed excellent performance. It is a valid and reproducible diagnostic method as well as a promising tool for identifying suspicious solid thyroid nodules needing cytological assessment and surgery.

Key Points

? Elastography is an additional tool for optimal characterisation of malignant thyroid nodules. ? The use of semiquantitative elastographic evaluation increases the diagnostic performance, ? The interobserver agreement of quantitative elastography can be considered to be good.     

Congenital hypothyroidism: assessment with ultrasound.

PURPOSETo determine the clinical utility of cervical ultrasound in patients suspected of having congenital hypothyroidism.METHODSThirty-seven patients with suspected congenital hypothyroidism underwent ultrasound and scintigraphic evaluation of the thyroid anatomy, morphology, and function. The ultrasound findings and laboratory data were compared with the standard-of-reference scintigraphic findings and laboratory data for diagnosing specific causes in those patients, and prognosis was correlated with the ultrasound findings.RESULTSUltrasound was not reliable for detecting ectopia (n = 8) or differentiating ectopia from aplasia (n = 1). Ultrasound showed ectopia in six (four in the mouth floor and two in the tongue base) of eight cases (75% sensitivity). Ultrasound did not show one ectopia in the floor of mouth because its echogenicity was similar to that of surrounding tissues. A second ectopia, in the hypopharynx, was missed because of hindrance of the laryngeal air. Radioactive iodine uptake and scintigraphy was required for the patients with enlarged glands in the normal place to differentiate dyshormonogenesis from other categories. Specific causes were diagnosed correctly with ultrasound findings and laboratory data alone in all of the 20 patients who had hemiaplasia or small or normal-size glands in the normal location. Incidences of heterogeneity and hypoechogenicity of the thyroid gland in patients with prolonged clinical course (whose replacement therapy or follow-up extended for more than 1 year) were significantly higher than those in patients with short clinical course.CONCLUSIONUltra-sound can obviate the need for scintigraphy in more than half (54%) of patients with possible congenital hypothyroidism. Ultrasound has a potential to predict prognosis of these patients.     

二维及彩色多普勒超声对甲状腺乳头状癌的诊断价值

目的 探讨二维及彩色多普勒超声对甲状腺乳头状癌(PTC)的诊断价值.方法 回顾性分析经病理组织学证实的283个PTC和526个甲状腺良性结节的超声表现,对2组结节的各项超声表现的差异进行统计学分析,并分别计算其诊断的敏感性、特异性及准确性.结果 边缘毛糙(敏感性65.3％、特异性91.4％、准确性82.3％)、形态不规则(敏感性61.8％、特异性93.3％、准确性82.3％)、结节纵横比≥1(敏感性65.7％、特异性95.4％、准确性85.0％)、结节内部呈低回声或极低回声(敏感性79.5％、特异性.93.0％、准确性88.3％)、结节内部含微钙化(敏感性69.3％、特异性97.5％、准确性87.6％)、伴颈部淋巴结肿大(敏感性20.1％、特异性96.0％、准确性69.5％)以及结节内部血流信号丰富(敏感性26.1％、特异性93.3％、准确性69.8％)在恶性组中的检出率均较高,与对照组相比差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).PTC合并正常甲状腺者32例(17.9％),合并甲状腺腺瘤者12例(6.7％),合并结节性甲状腺肿者58例(32.4％),合并桥本甲状腺炎者77例(43.0％),合并桥本甲状腺炎者最多.结论 边缘毛糙、形态不规则,结节纵横比≥1、结节内部呈低回声或极低回声及结节内部含微钙化等指标的诊断准确性较高,是诊断PTC的重要指标,伴颈部淋巴结肿大及结节内部血流信号丰富的敏感性、准确性低但特异性较高,可作为鉴别诊断的参考指标,当桥本甲状腺炎合并可疑结节时更应警惕恶性可能.     

胸部CT扫描中颈部伸展体位应用价值的探讨

目的 探讨在胸部CT扫描中患者颈部伸展使甲状腺腺体上移以减少甲状腺辐射暴露的可能性。方法 对2017年3至6月北京朝阳医院进行胸部CT检查1 994例患者的图像资料进行比较分析,按颈部体位不同分为伸展组和常规组,每组997例,伸展组患者头颈部后仰成颌顶位。常规组采用常规头颅扫描头架,头部正常体位。以第一肋骨头为基准计数标志,观察两组患者甲状腺腺体暴露于扫描范围内的腺体长度及腺体全部移出扫描范围的例数。比较两组患者原发射线区域内甲状腺腺体扫描长度的差别。结果 伸展组患者甲状腺腺体暴露于扫描范围内的长度（4.69±5.68） mm,显著短于常规组（17.16±6.68） mm患者,差异有统计学意义（U=91 073.5,P<0.05）,并且伸展组患者甲状腺腺体完全脱离扫描范围内的例数519例,多于常规组32例,差异有统计学意义（U=594.8,P<0.05）。52.1%患者的甲状腺腺体完全脱离扫描范围内原发射线的辐射暴露。结论 胸部CT扫描时患者颈部伸展可以使甲状腺腺体位于扫描野内的长度缩短,有效提高甲状腺的辐射防护。     

Pulmonary Hemorrhage Following Percutaneous Computed Tomography-Guided Lung Biopsy: Retrospective Review of Risk Factors,Including Aspirin Usage

BackgroundTo evaluate the significance of aspirin, as well as, other potential confounding risk factors, on the incidence and volume of pulmonary hemorrhage in patients undergoing percutaneous computed tomography-guided lung biopsy.MethodsThis retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. Between September 2013 and December 2014, 252 patients taking aspirin underwent transthoracic computed tomography-guided lung biopsy. Patient, technical, and lesion-related risk factors were evaluated. Univariate analysis was performed with a Student's t test, chi-square test, or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate followed by multivariate logistic regression.ResultsOf 252 patients, 49 (19.4%) continued or stopped aspirin ≤4 days prior to biopsy and 203 (80.6%) patients stopped aspirin ≥5 days prior to biopsy. Pulmonary hemorrhage occurred in 174 cases (69.0%). The median volume of hemorrhage was 3.74 cm³ (range, 0-163.5 cm³). Multivariate analysis revealed that lesion size (P < 0.0001) and lesion depth (P < 0.0001) were independent risk factors for the incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage, while lesion size (P = 0.0035), transgression of intraparenchymal vessels (P < 0.0001), and lesion depth (P = 0.0047) were independent risk factors for severity of hemorrhage. Aspirin stopped ≤4 days from a percutaneous lung biopsy was not associated with pulmonary hemorrhage.ConclusionAspirin taken concurrently or stopped within 4 days of transthoracic lung biopsy is not an independent risk factor for pulmonary hemorrhage. The incidence of hemorrhage following lung biopsy is associated with lesion size and depth, while the severity of hemorrhage is associated with lesion size, depth, as well as traversal of intraparenchymal vessels.     

Edema in the retropharyngeal space associated with head and neck tumors: CT imaging characteristics

To determine computed tomographic (CT) imaging characteristics of retropharygeal edema, we reviewed CT images in 18 patients with head and neck tumors. Retropharyngeal edema spread craniocaudally between soft palate and upper half of thyroid cartilage in all patients. No edema fluid extended above soft palate and below thyroid cartilage. Horizontally, it spread symmetrically in ten and asymmetrically in eight patients. Predominance in asymmetrical retropharyngeal edema was found on the same side as that of unilateral predominance both in lymph nodes enlargement and jugular vein stenosis/occlusion. All patients had edema also in other cervical spaces. Edema of retropharyngeal and other spaces fluctuated synchronously. In 14 patients, as primary lesion and/or cervical lymph nodes regressed, retropharyngeal edema disappeared or decreased. Retropharyngeal edema had some imaging characteristics. With knowledge of that, we could avoid diagnostic confusion when evaluating head and neck CT images.     

Imaging Biomarkers of Hypothyroidism on Lung Cancer Screening CT

PurposeTo assess the feasibility of attenuation and size measurement of the thyroid gland as an imaging biomarker for hypothyroidism in patients undergoing lung cancer screening (LCS) with low dose CT.Materials and MethodsWith institutional review board (IRB) approval, we retrospectively reviewed all patients with LCS CT between September 1, 2016 and March 31, 2020, who had at least 1 thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test within 90 days of the patient's most recent screening CT. Hypothyroid patients were identified through billing diagnosis and/or elevated TSH or those on treatment with thyroxine; normal patients were identified as those without a diagnosis of hypothyroidism and normal TSH. For each hypothyroid patient, an age- and sex-matched normal control was included. The diameters and attenuation of both lobes of the thyroid gland were measured for each case; patients in whom the thyroid gland could not be seen to measure were excluded.ResultsA total of 304 patients were included. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for size and attenuation of the left lobe were 0.774 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.714-0.825) and 0.812 (95% CI 0.759-0.861), respectively; and for the right lobe were 0.776 (95% CI 0.719-0.827) and 0.794 (95% CI 0.740-0.847), respectively. We developed a decision tree algorithm to predict hypothyroidism combining the minimum size and attenuation of either lobe of the thyroid gland, with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 76%, 87%, and 82%, respectively.ConclusionSize and attenuation of the thyroid gland can be used to identify potential hypothyroid patients undergoing LCS.     

Iron deposition and atrophy in cerebral grey matter and their possible association with serum iron in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

PurposeThe present study was carried out to investigate any possible linkage between cerebral grey matter volumetric, iron changes, white matter's lesions load and serum iron levels in a group of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients.Materials and methodsSixty-five RRMS patients along with thirty-four age-matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Serum samples were isolated from blood samples which were collected in vacutainer plain tubes individually from both groups. Both groups were scanned at 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the following 3D sequences; T1-weighted gradient echo (MPRAGE), T2*-weighted gradient echo and T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR).ResultsSignificant differences were observed between the RRMS patients and HCs for cortical and deep grey matter (dGM) volumes where cortical and dGM volumes in RRMS patient were significantly smaller than those in HCs. While iron deposition in the cortex, putamen (PT) and globus pallidus (GP) of RRMS patients were significantly higher than those of HCs, iron levels in thalamus (TH) and serum were significantly lower in RRMS compared to those in HCs. Except for T2 lesion load, none of volumetric measures showed any association with patients' disability status. Cerebral grey matter's iron changes did not show any association with those of serum.ConclusionSmaller cortical and subcortical grey matter volumes in RRMS patients compared to HCs were detected. None of the volumetric measures showed any association with patients' disability status. RRMS patients showed increased iron levels in the PT, GP and cortex and decreased levels in the TH and serum.     

Thyroid Doppler indices in patients with sickle cell disease

ObjectiveTo evaluate the intrathyroidal hemodynamic changes and thyroidal volume in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients.MethodsThirty-two patients with homozygous SCD and 32 control subjects were examined with color Doppler ultrasonography. None of the patients and control subjects had clinical or laboratory evidence of thyroid disease.ResultsSCD patients had significantly higher resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) values and lower thyroid volume compared with control group.ConclusionIncreased intrathyroidal RI and PI and decreased thyroid volume may be due to impaired thyroidal microcirculation. Further and follow-up studies are needed to explain the relationship between Doppler parameters and thyroid functions.     

Increased spatial resolution using a three-dimensional T1-weighted gradient-echo MR sequence results in greater hypointense lesion volumes in multiple sclerosis.

PURPOSEOur goal was to evaluate whether improved spatial resolution of MR images results in the detection of higher volumes of hypointense lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).METHODSA magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo (MP-RAGE) sequence with subsequent reconstruction of axial sections with 5-, 3-, and 1-mm thickness and a dual-echo sequence were obtained in 16 patients with relapsing-remitting or secondary-progressive MS. The volumes of MR imaging abnormalities present on each of these studies were measured using a semiautomated segmentation technique based on local thresholding. The hypointense lesion volumes seen on the three reconstructed MP-RAGE sets of images were compared using the Friedman test and correlated with the hyperintense lesion volume on proton density-weighted images and with scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale using Spearman''s rank correlation coefficient.RESULTSThe median volume of hypointense lesions increased from 1.2 mL (range, 0 to 14.9 mL) on the 5-mm-thick MP-RAGE images to 1.7 mL (range, 0 to 15.8 mL) on the 3-mm-thick images, and to 1.9 mL (range, 0 to 16.2 mL) on the 1-mm-thick images. The hypointense lesion volumes measured on the three MP-RAGE images correlated significantly with the degree of disability, whereas this correlation was not significant with the T2-weighted lesion load.CONCLUSIONOur findings indicate that a significant increase in the volume of potentially disabling MS lesions is observed when obtaining MR images with thin sections.     

Scintigraphic findings of the thyroid in hypothyroid patients with blocking-type TSH-receptor antibodies

The present study was designed to analyse the scintigraphic appearance of the thyroid in hypothyroid patients with blocking-type TSH receptor antibodies (TRAbs). Eleven hypothyroid patients with autoimmune thyroiditis positive for TSH binding inhibitor immunoglobulins (TBII) [80% ± 12 (SD)%; normal <11%] and for thyroid stimulation-blocking antibodies (TSBAbs) (90% ± 9%; normal <32%) were studied. Thyroid scanning was performed using technetium-99m or iodine-123, when the patients were hypothyroid. Analysis of the scan images revealed the presence of localized functioning areas in six patients (group 1), and no visualization of the thyroid in the remaining five patients (group 2). Patients in group 1 showed significantly higher uptake of ^99m-Tc than those in group 2 (P<0.05). Interestingly, three patients in group 1 were positive for thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAbs) (249% ± 17%; normal <145%), which were not detected in the remaining eight patients. Antibodies against thyroglobulin and microsomal antigens were detected in nine nine (81.8%) and 11 (100%) patients, respectively, but neither of these titres correlated with the scan image. Three patients in group 1 underwent scintigraphy again after treatment with thyroxine, at which time the functioning lesion was not noted. Fourteen hypothyroid patients with negative TBII displayed no such scintigraphic findings. Chronic stimulation of the thyroid by TSAbs and/or TSH might be responsible for the presence of the functioning lesion, but clarification of the mechanism requires further studies. In summary (1) TSAbs were detected in three (27.3%) of 11 hypothyroid patients with blocking TRAbs; (2) thyroid scintigraphy revealed the presence of localized functioning area(s) in approximately half of these cases.