Review on ultrasonographic diagnosis of thyroid diseases based on deep learning / 生物医学工程学杂志

In recent years, the incidence of thyroid diseases has increased significantly and ultrasound examination is the first choice for the diagnosis of thyroid diseases. At the same time, the level of medical image analysis based on deep learning has been rapidly improved. Ultrasonic image analysis has made a series of milestone breakthroughs, and deep learning algorithms have shown strong performance in the field of medical image segmentation and classification. This article first elaborates on the application of deep learning algorithms in thyroid ultrasound image segmentation, feature extraction, and classification differentiation. Secondly, it summarizes the algorithms for deep learning processing multimodal ultrasound images. Finally, it points out the problems in thyroid ultrasound image diagnosis at the current stage and looks forward to future development directions. This study can promote the application of deep learning in clinical ultrasound image diagnosis of thyroid, and provide reference for doctors to diagnose thyroid disease.

Determinación de las características funcionales de los nódulos tiroideos mediante imágenes de medicina nuclear en pacientes que acudieron al Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud - UNA, en el periodo 2016-2019 / Determination of the functional characteristics of thyroid nodules through nuclear medicine images in patients, who attended the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud - UNA, in the period 2016-2019

nuclear permiten visualizar la estructura y función de un órgano, tejido, hueso o sistema dentro del cuerpo, entre ellos la glándula tiroidea, la cual puede presentar un nódulo tiroideo y este es importante diagnosticar por su potencial malignidad. Objetivo: Determinar las características funcionales de los nódulos tiroideos en 183 pacientes que asistieron al Servicio de Medicina Nuclear del Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud - UNA durante el período de noviembre del 2016 - noviembre del 2019. Metodología: Fue utilizada la gammacámara SPECT doble cabezal, siguiendo protocolo estandarizado, con administración de pertecnetato de sodio. Resultados: Se observó que la gran mayoría de los pacientes corresponden al sexo femenino 89%, así como que el 64% provienen de la capital y del departamento central; las patologías detectadas corresponden a bocio en 82%, 15% a nódulos (hipercaptantes, hipocaptantes y autónomos) y casos particulares de tiroiditis, tiroides ectópica y adenoma tóxico. La medicina nuclear está directamente involucrada tanto en el diagnóstico como en el tratamiento de la enfermedad tiroidea, por lo que se requiere una comprensión de la fisiopatología y el manejo de los trastornos de la tiroides, de manera a que las políticas de salud pública sean implementadas para el fortalecimiento de la lucha contra estas enfermedades. Conclusión: El trabajo de investigación realizado comprobó que un mayoritario porcentaje de participantes de sexo femenino (89%), con enfermedades tiroideas asistieron al IICS/UNA, y que la frecuencia de bocio entre la totalidad de pacientes que participaron de este estudio fué de 151/183 (82%), los pacientes provenían en su mayoría de hospitales de referencia del departamento Central y coinciden con la localización geográfica de los domicilios de los pacientes, quienes provenían principalmente del mismo departamento Central 118/183 (64%), no obstante también participaron del trabajo de investigación pacientes provenientes de otros departamentos del país. Palabras claves: Diagnóstico, medicina nuclear, tiroides, tecnología nuclear en salud, SPECT

Introduction: The images obtained by nuclear medicine allow to visualize the structure and function of an organ, tissue, bone or system inside the body, including the thyroid gland, which can present a thyroid nodule and this is important to diagnose for its potential malignancy. Objective: To determine the functional characteristics of the thyroid nodules were determined in 183 patients, who attended the Nuclear Medicine Service at the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud during the period of November 2016 - November 2019. Methodology: It was used the dual head SPECT gamma camera following a standardized protocol with administration of sodium pertechnetate. Result: It was observed that most of the patients corresponded to the female sex 89 %, as well as that 64% came from the capital and the central department. The pathologies detected corresponded to goiter in 82%, 15% to nodules (hypercaptant, hypocaptant and autonoms) and particular cases of thyroiditis, ectopic thyroid and toxic adenoma. Nuclear medicine is directly involved both in the diagnosis and in the treatment of thyroid disease, therefore it requires an understanding of the pathophysiology and management of thyroid disorders in order that public health policies are implemented for strengthening the fight against these diseases. Conclusion: The research carried out showed that a majority percentage of female participants (89%), with thyroid diseases attended IICS / UNA, and the frequency of goiter among all patients who participated in this study was 151/183 ( 82%), the patients mostly they came the reference hospitals in the Central department and coincide with the geographic location of the patients' homes, who tested mainly from the same Central department 118/183 (64%), also participate in the research work patients from other departments of the country. Keywords: Diagnosis, nuclear medicine, thyroid, health technology, SPECT.

Aumento de la capacidad diagnóstica de la ecografía (informada con clasificación t-rads) cuando se agrega una punción aspirativa con aguja fina (informada con sistema bethesda) / Increase of the diagnostic yield of thyroid sonogram (reported with t-rads clasification) when a fine needle aspiration cytology (reported with bethesda system) is added

Cuando un nódulo tiroideo muestra características ecográficas sospechosas de malignidad (informada con clasificación T-RADS) casi no se discute que debe completarse el diagnóstico con una punción aspirativa con aguja fina (PAAF) (informada con sistema Bethesda). Pero cuando la ecografía sólo muestra características consideradas de benignidad, la indicación de PAAF es cuestionable y debe ser justificada. ¿Podrá la clasificación T-RADS determinar eficientemente cuáles nódulos tiroideos requieren una PAAF y cuáles no? Esta decisión está vinculada a determinar si un paciente deberá ser sometido o no a una cirugía tiroidea. Objetivo: Analizar la capacidad de la clasificación T-RADS, con y sin el agregado de sistema Bethesda para optimizar el diagnóstico de patología tiroidea. Material y métodos: se incluyeron 139 nódulos que requirieron cirugía, previamente evaluados con ecografía y con PAAF. Fueron realizadas por un mismo operador las ecografías (SMB), las punciones (OBM) y las cirugías (JLN). Se homogeneizaron las definiciones: T-RADS II-III-IVa y Bethesda II-III: Baja sospecha de malignidad; T-RADS IVb-V-VI y Bethesda IV-V-VI: Alta sospecha de malignidad. Conslusiones: se comprobó que cuando las características ecográficas de un nódulo tienen baja sospecha de malignidad (T-RADS II-III-IVa), indicar una PAAF no aporta al diagnóstico en forma estadísticamente significativa. Cuando la ecografía indica alta sospecha de malignidad (T-RADS IVb-V-VI), la realización de una PAAF incrementa significativamente la certidumbre del diagnóstico (AU)

When a thyroid nodule shows ultrasonographic characteristics of malignancy suspicion (informed with T-RADS classification), almost nobody discusses to complete diagnosis with a fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) (informed with Bethesda system). But when ultrasonography only shows characteristics compatible with benignity, a FNAB indication is questionable and that must be justified. Could T-RADS classification efficiently identify which nodule requires a FNAB and which does not? That decision will linked to which patients should be undergo a thyroid surgery. Objective: to analyze T-RADS capability with and without Bethesda system to optimize the diagnosis of thyroid pathology. Material and methods: a total of 139 nodules which required surgery were included. They were previously evaluated with ultrasonography and FNAB. A same operator classified the T-RADS (SMB), the Bethesda system (OMB) and performed the surgeries (JLN). For this work, definitions were homogenized as follows: T-RADS II-III-IVa and Bethesda II-III: Low suspicion of malignancy; T-RADS IVb-V-VI and Bethesda IV-V-VI: High suspicion of malignancy. Conclusions: the evidence suggested that when a thyroid nodule shows low suspicion of malignancy by ultrasonography (T-RADS II-III-IVa), the indication of a FNAB did not add statistically significant diagnostic benefit. When a thyroid nodule shows high suspicion of malignancy (T-RADS IVb-V-VI), a FNAB added significant diagnostic accuracy (AU)

Síndrome POEMS: um diagnóstico desafiador / POEMS Syndrome: a challenging diagnosis

A síndrome POEMS é um distúrbio multissistêmico. Sua patogênese não está totalmente estabelecida, mas sabe-se que tem relação com fator de crescimento vascular endotelial, interleucinas e fator de necrose tumoral alfa. A idade média de incidência é 50 anos, com maior prevalência em homens. Neuropatia periférica e gamopatia monoclonal estão presentes em todos os pacientes e são consideradas critérios maiores; quando associadas a pelo menos um critério menor, estabelecem diagnóstico da síndrome. As opções de tratamento são radioterapia, corticosteroides e quimioterapia, além de transplante autólogo de células-tronco hematopoiéticas. (AU)

POEMS syndrome is a multisystem disorder. Its pathogenesis isn't fully established, but it is known to be related to endothelial vascular growth factor, interleukins, and tumoral necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). The mean age at incidence is 50 years, with a higher prevalence in men. Peripheral neuropathy and monoclonal gammopathy are present in all patients, and are considered major criteria; when associated with at least one minor criterium, they establish the diagnosis of the syndrome. Treatment options are radiotherapy, corticosteroids, chemotherapy, as well as autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. (AU)

Thyrotropin and free thyroxine levels and coronary artery disease: cross-sectional analysis of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

Data on the association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and coronary artery disease (CAD) is scarce. We aimed to analyze the association between thyroid function and CAD using baseline data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). We included subjects with normal thyroid function (0.4-4.0 mIU/L, and normal free thyroxine, FT4, or 0.8 to 1.9 ng/dL), subclinical hypothyroidism (SCHypo; TSH>4.0 mIU/L and normal FT4), and subclinical hyperthyroidism (SCHyper; TSH<0.4 mIU/L and normal FT4) evaluated by coronary computed tomography angiography. We excluded individuals using medications that interfere in thyroid function or with past medical history of cardiovascular disease. Logistic regression models evaluated the presence of CAD, segment involvement score (SIS) >4, and segment severity score (SSS) >4 of coronary arteries as the dependent variables, and quintiles of TSH and FT4 as the independent variables, adjusted for demographical data and cardiovascular risk factors. We included 767 subjects, median age 58 years (IQR=55-63), 378 (49.3%) women, 697 euthyroid (90.9%), 57 (7.4%) with SCHypo, and 13 (1.7%) with SCHyper. No association between TSH and FT4 quintiles and CAD prevalence was noted. Similarly, no association between TSH levels and the extent or severity of CAD, represented by SIS>4 and SSS>4 were seen. Restricting analysis to euthyroid subjects did not alter the results. TSH levels were not significantly associated with the presence, extent, or severity of CAD in a middle-aged healthy population.

Ultrasonographic assessment of thyroid volume in oldest-old individuals

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between thyroid volume and age, gender, anthropometric characteristics, and echogenicity in oldest-old subjects in an iodine-sufficient area. Subjects and methods The study included 81 independent elderly individuals aged ≥ 80 years (65 [80.2%] women). We determined these individuals' anthropometric characteristics, body mass index (BMI), and lean body mass, as well as thyroid volume and echogenicity by ultrasonography. Results We observed that octogenarians and nonagenarians had different profiles of thyroid echogenicity. The volume of the thyroid was smaller in nonagenarians than octogenarians (p = 0.012, r = 0.176), and subjects aged 80-89 years had more often hypoechoic glands than those aged ≥ 90 years (p = 0.01 versus 0.602). Conclusion The identification of ultrasonographic differences in oldest-old individuals will contribute to establishing preclinical markers, such as echogenicity, to identify individuals at risk of developing autoimmune thyroid disease. Future prospective studies should identify if 80-89-year-old individuals with hypoechoic glands progress to hypothyroidism, and if the absence of changes in echogenicity (i.e. a normal thyroid parenchyma) would have a positive impact on longevity among nonagenarians.

Percutaneous ethanol injection versus conservative treatment for benign cystic and mixed thyroid nodules

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in reducing the volume of cystic and mixed thyroid nodules. Materials and methods A total of 36 patients with nodules treated with PEI and 13 individuals who declined PEI and were followed clinically or received other non surgical treatment (control group). Assessments were performed at baseline (immediately before treatment in the PEI group or evaluation of the nodule on ultrasonography in the control group) at short-term (on average 30 days after the last injection in the PEI group), and long-term (on average 14 months after baseline in the PEI group or 26 months after baseline in the control group). Results In the PEI group, the mean baseline volume of 10.4 ± 9.8 cm3 reduced at short-term follow-up to 2.9 ± 3.1 cm3 (67.7 ± 19.9%, p < 0.001) and at long-term follow-up to 2.0 ± 2.5 cm3 (78.2 ± 19.5%, p < 0.01 versus baseline and p = 0.009 versus short-term follow-up). Both types of nodules showed similar degrees of reduction. In the control group, mean volume was 5.8 ± 3.4 cm3 at baseline and 6.2 ± 3.0 cm3 at long-term follow-up (p = 0.507). Compared with the control group, the PEI group showed larger reduction (p < 0.001). Conclusions PEI is effective in reducing the volume of cystic and mixed benign thyroid nodules, with sustained long-term efficacy and better outcome when compared with conservative therapies. Treatment with PEI is a safe alternative, with minimal, transient and self-limited adverse events.

Relación entre el valor del ratio elastográfico y la clasificación citológica de Bethesda en la patología tiroidea / Relationship between the value of elastography ratio and the cytological classification of Bethesda in thyroid pathology

Objetivo: Presentar nuestra experiencia en la categorización de la patología tiroidea, a través de la utilización de parámetros ecográficos de malignidad y elastografía con medición del ratio de la deformación tisular, y la correlación de los hallazgos obtenidos con la clasificación citológica de Bethesda. Materiales y métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio prospectivo y observacional, entre septiembre de 2012 y abril de 2013, que incluyó 137 nódulos tiroideos. Se excluyeron 10 casos Bethesda III-IV. Se realizó ecografía, power Doppler, visualización de micropartículas (Micropure) y elastografía con medición del ratio elastográfico, así como también punción aspirativa con aguja fina guiada por ecografía (con el citólogo presente), utilizando la clasificación Bethesda. Los estudios fueron hechos por el mismo operador con un ecógrafo Toshiba Aplio 400 y los datos estadísticos se evaluaron con el programa IBM SPSS Statistics 20. Resultados: Se estudiaron 127 nódulos en pacientes con una edad promedio de 59±16 anos. El 82% de los casos ocurrió en mujeres. Ciento veinte nódulos (94%) fueron clasificados como Bethesda II. La media elastográfica para Bethesda I-II fue de 1,94±2,12 vs. 7,07±5,46 para V-VI (p: 0,048). El punto de corte elastográfico ≤ 2 (87 de 127) presentó una sensibilidad del 85,7% y una especificidad del 81,7% para predecir Bethesda asociada a patología benigna, con un valor predictivo negativo (VPN) del 99% y un valor predictivo positivo del 15%. Conclusiones: El ratio elastográfico permitió descartar la patología tiroidea maligna con valores ≤ 2 y un VPN del 99%, mejorando la selección de los pacientes a punzar. El incremento del ratio elastográfico se asoció a una mayor probabilidad de patología maligna, aunque no se pudo establecer un valor de corte debido al bajo número de casos con Bethesda V-VI.

Objectives: We present our experience in the categorization of thyroid pathology using the sonographic parameters of malignancy and elastography with measurement elastography strain ratio, to evaluate the relationship between the results found and the Bethesda classification. Materials and methods: Prospective observational study, included 137 thyroid nodules studied between September 2012- April 2013. We excluded 10 cases with Bethesda categories III-IV. Ultrasonography, Doppler, Micropure, elastogrphy strain ratio between the lesion and the normal tissue, fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC),were the diagnosis methods used. The pathologist was always present and the cytological classi fication of Bethesda was used. All study was made by the same physician used Toshiba Aplio 400 ultrasound unit. Results were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics 20. Results: We studied 127 nodules in patients 59±16 years old, 82% were female; 120 were Bethesda II (94%). The average strain ratio for nodules Bethesda I-II was 1.94±2.12 vs. 7.07±5.46 for those nodules Bethesda V-VI (p:0,048). This means that an elastography strain ratio ≤ 2 (87 of 127 nodules) has a sensibility of 85.7% and a specificity of 81.7% of predicting Bethesda associated with benign pathology with a negative predictive value (NPV) of 99% and a positive predictive value of 15%. Conclusion: The elastography strain ratio allowed to discard malignant nodules with strain ratio ≤ 2 with a NPV of 99% improves the selection of patients for FNAC. The increment in the elastography strain ratio was associated to a higher possibility of malignant thyroid pathology, being unable to determine a limit value due to the low amount of cases with nodules Bethesda V-VI.

Prevalencia y caracterización de la enfermedad tiroidea nodular y del bocio difuso en un área urbana / Prevalence and characterization of the thyroid nodule and the diffuse goiter in an urban area

Introducción: La enfermedad tiroidea nodular constituye un problema de salud en la población adulta por su alta prevalencia. Su diagnóstico se ha favorecido en las últimas décadas como consecuencia de la realización del ultrasonido del tiroides. La provincia de Sancti Spíritus, no disponía de investigaciones previas para analizar la problemática de esta enfermedad y del bocio difuso en las personas adultas, por lo que un estudio de prevalencia se realizó en la ciudad de Jatibonico. Objetivos: determinar la prevalencia de la enfermedad tiroidea nodular y del bocio difuso en la población adulta de 3 consultorios del área urbana de Jatibonico; así como precisar en las personas con enfermedad tiroidea nodular y con bocio difuso, sus antecedentes personales y familiares, el cuadro clínico de presentación, los signos ultrasonográficos y el valor de la hormona estimulante del tiroides. Métodos: el universo de estudio lo constituyó una población de 18 años o más de edad de ambos sexos, pertenecientes a 3 consultorios escogidos al azar del área urbana de Jatibonico (n= 6 126 personas). La muestra estimada para un intervalo de confianza del 95 por ciento fue de 337 personas, y se logró encuestar a 405 sujetos. A la totalidad se les realizó un ultrasonido del tiroides. A 277 personas se les determinó la hormona estimulante del tiroides. Las personas fueron clasificadas con y sin enfermedad tiroidea; y a su vez, esta última, fue subclasificada en enfermedad tiroidea nodular y bocio difuso. Resultados: la prevalencia de la enfermedad tiroidea en la población estudiada fue de 41,97 por ciento (IC- 95 por ciento: 37,17-46,77 por ciento). Al individualizarla, la enfermedad tiroidea nodular se halló en el 36,79 por ciento (IC- 95 por ciento: 32,09-41,48 por ciento) y el bocio difuso en el 5,18 por ciento (IC- 95 por ciento: 3,02-7,33 por ciento) respectivamente. Los pacientes con enfermedad tiroidea, en su mayoría, se manifestaban asintomáticos (85,3 por ciento) y se distribuyeron en todos los grupos de edades, pero con un ligero predominio en las féminas. La hormona estimulante del tiroides elevada (32,85 por ciento) y subnormal (7,58 por ciento) se constataron en los pacientes estudiados. Conclusión: en la población estudiada, la prevalencia de la enfermedad tiroidea nodular fue mayor que la del bocio difuso(AU)

Introduction: Thyroid nodule disease is a health problem in the adult population due to its high incidence. The diagnosis has improved in the last few decades as a result of the thyroid computer tomography. Previous research studies to analyze the situation of this disease and of diffuse goiter in the adult population did not exist in Sancti Spiritus province, so the prevalence study was conducted in Jatibonico city. Objective: to determine the prevalence of the thyroid nodule disease and of diffuse goiter in the adult populations from 3 physician's offices located in Jatibonico urban area as well as to determine the personal and family histories, the clinical picture of presentation, the ultrasonographic signs and the value of the thyroid-stimulating hormone in those people with thyroid nodule and diffuse goiter. Methods: the universe of study was an 18 years-old and over population of both sexes from 3 randomly selected physician's offices located in the urban area of Jatibonico (n= 6 126 people). The estimated sample for 95 % confidence interval was 337 persons and a total number of 405 individuals were surveyed. All of them were performed thyroid computer tomography. The thyroid-stimulating hormone was detected in 277 people. They were then classified into subjects having and not having the disease, and at the same time, there was sub-classification into thyroid nodule disease and diffuse goiter. Results: the prevalence of thyroid disease in the studied population was 41.97 percent (CI- 95 percent: 37.17-46.77 percent). The sub-classification yielded the presence of thyroid nodule disease in 36.79 percent of subjects (CI- 95 percent: 32.09-41.48 percent) and of diffuse goiter in 5.18 percent (CI- 95 percent: 3.02-7.33 percent), respectively. The majority of patients suffering from this disease was asymptomatic (85.3 percent) and distributed into all the age groups, with slight predominance of females. The high (32.85 percent) and the subnormal (7.58 percent) thyroid-stimulating hormones were detected in the studied patients. Conclusions: in the study population, the prevalence of the thyroid nodule disease was higher than that of the diffuse goiter(AU)

Diagnostic Role of Conventional Ultrasonography and Shearwave Elastography in Asymptomatic Patients with Diffuse Thyroid Disease: Initial Experience with 57 Patients

PURPOSE: Thyroid ultrasonography (US) is a useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of diffuse thyroid disease (DTD), whereas shearwave elastography is a dynamic technique that can provide information about tissue hardness by using acoustic shearwaves remotely induced by a focused ultrasonic beam. This study aims at investigating the role of conventional US and shearwave elastography in the diagnosis of asymptomatic patients with DTD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven patients who underwent both conventional US and shearwave elastography were included in this study. Interobserver variability of the three radiologists in assessment of underlying thyroid echogenicity on conventional US was analyzed. Diagnostic performances for diagnosing DTD on conventional US and shearwave elastography were calculated and compared. RESULTS: Fair agreement was observed in the identification of DTD with conventional US (kappa value=0.27). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (Az) were 0.52-0.585 on conventional US by three radiologists. The Az values when using the mean and maximum elasticity values as a diagnostic criteria for DTD were 0.619 and 0.59 on shearwave elastography. Patients with DTD showed higher mean [24.1+/-10 kilo-Pascals (kPa)] and maximum (36.4+/-13.3 kPa) elasticity values on shearwave elastography when compared to the normal group (23.4+/-10.8 kPa and 33.7+/-12.4 kPa, respectively), although without statistical significance (p=0.802 and p=0.452, respectively). CONCLUSION: Conventional US did not show reliable interobserver agreement in the diagnosis of DTD. Although not statistically significant, shearwave elastography may provide additional information in the diagnosis of DTD. Therefore, larger prospective studies are needed to define the values of shearwave elastography for diagnosing DTD.

Thyroid Ultrasonography: Pitfalls and Techniques

Thyroid ultrasonography (US) plays a key role in the diagnosis and management of thyroid-related diseases. The aim of this article was to illustrate various pitfalls that can occur in utilizing thyroid US and techniques to prevent them. In this article, we present cases demonstrating the common pitfalls associated with US equipment, performance, normal thyroid structures, misinterpretations, and surrounding structures. Knowledge of these areas is essential to avoid misdiagnosis or improper disease management.

El ultrasonido en algunas afecciones del tiroides / Use of ultrasonography in some thyroid diseases

El ultrasonido es la primera modalidad de diagnóstico por imagen empleada en la investigación de las enfermedades del tiroides, y entre sus ventajas se distingue por ser un método no invasivo y barato, así como para servir de guía para la biopsia. Ciertas características ultrasonográficas son significativamente más frecuentes en los nódulos malignos que en los benignos. Con el objetivo de crear un estándar entre las lesiones ultrasonográficas y su correlación con malignidad, se ha desarrollado, por el Colegio Americano de Radiología, el sistema de datos y reporte de imágenes tiroideas(AU)

Ultrasonography is the first diagnostic modality through imaging that is used in the study of thyroid diseases, and some of the advantages include being a cheap, non-invasive method and a guide for biopsy. Certain ultrasonographic features are significantly more frequent in malignant than in benign nodules. With the objective of creating a standard of the ultrasonographic lesions and the correlation with malignancy, the American College of Radiology has developed the system of thyroid image data and reporting(AU)

Actualidad del ultrasonido en las enfermedades del tiroides / Up-to-dateness of ultrasound in thyroid diseases

Entre la ventajas del ultrasonido se encuentran las de ser un método diagnóstico sencillo, de bajo costo, de fácil realización que permite diagnóstico oportuno y estudios evolutivos. Sirve de guía para la punción tiroidea. Permite explorar pacientes operados(AU)

Prevention of oversight administration of [99m]Tc pertechnetate or I-131 for thyroid patients during early pregnancy

Tc-99m-pertechnetate and I-131 radionuclides have been utilized widely in diagnosis and therapy for different thyroid diseases. Radionuclide administration is absolutely contraindication in pregnant women, particularly during early pregnancy to avoid interval the effects of ionizing radiation emitted from administrated radionuclides for both fetus, and the pregnant mother. This study depended on a recorded survey for pregnant women who had received oversightly either Tc-99m-pertechnetate intravenously or I-131 orally. Only fifty-seven pregnant women with different thyroid disorders were received oversightly intravenous Tc-99m pertechnetate doses to perform thyroid scintigraphy or orally I-131 doses for therapy purposes either in first or second trimester of pregnancy. Of those patients, 30 pregnant patients had received 2mCi [74MBq] dose of Tc-99m pertechnetate for thyroid scintigraphic studies, and 27 pregnant patients had received 10 to 25mCi [370 to 925MBq] I-131 therapy doses for treatment of hyperthyroidism and 10 to 25mCi [370 to 925MBq] for treatment of well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas 50 to 150mCi [1.8 to 5.5GBq]. It is fruitful to report one case with thyroid cancer that had treated inadvertently by I-131 therapy dose [50 mCi] during pregnancy as an example case to confirm our report, but she delivered a healthy daughter and no evidence of any congenital anomalies. Thus the daughter of this women was still under our followed up to date [18 year old], and we do not find any thyroid or other obvious body organs abnormalities. This study demonstrated that there was no evidence of any newborn anomalies or thyroid dysfunction presented during our follow up of those patients. We recommended that further animal studies for such issue to evaluate the effect of ionizing radiation due to I-131, which are frequently used in therapeutic purposes in medicine. Thus, we emphasize on many Obligatory advises that should be applied, clinically, inorder to prevent the occurrence of oversight administration of radionuclides. But, for the time being, we recommend that either ten days principle or 48 hour pregnancy test method should be done as a mandatory test before administration of any radionuclide to childbearing women to avoid any complications and to assure our patients

Interet de l'echographie thyroidienne: a propos du nodule thyroidien

L'echographie de la thyroide a pour but essentiel de: revendiquer une place de choix comme complement indispensable; mais indiscutable de l'examen clinique; permettre de faire le diagnostic differentiel entre des masses thyroidiennes et des masses extrathyroidiennes; apprecier l'echostructure des nodules thyroidiens et permettre leur surveillance en assurant avec precision la taille des nodules; et grace a la sensibilite de la technique; de detecter des nodules a un stade infra-clinique

Pyriform sinus fistula

Three patients had cervical draining sinus communicating with the pyriform sinus and one patient had acute suppurative thyroiditis resulting from infection through the pyriform sinus. There was a moderate to severe perithyroidal inflammation in all 4 cases. The age of onset ranged from 7 to 18 years old (mean; 12) but that of confirmation 9, 15, 18 and 67 years of age. Three of the patients were male and 3 of the cases involved the left side. All patients had suffered from several recurrences of cervical abscess, ranged from 2 to 7 times (mean; 4). Characteristic clinical features included 1) onset at a young age 2) frequent recurrence unless the fistula was extirpated completely 3) presenting with cervical draining sinus after repeated incision and drainage. It is supposed that the fistula is a route of infection mainly in the perithyroidal space and subsequently into the thyroid gland. When the fistula communicates directly with the thyroid gland, it can cause primary acute suppurative thyroiditis. Chronic cervical draining sinus with histories of repeated incision and drainage may be the clue to the diagnosis. A barium paste swallow study is the radiologic procedure of choice and complete removal of the fistula is the treatment of choice.