Clinical Applications of Thyroid Echography

Thyroid echography was carried out in 800 patients with thyroid abnormalities, including 122 with operative correlation. Echography was most useful in determining if solitary "cold" nodules 1 to 3 cm in diameter were cystic or solid. All 13 cysts and 54 solid tumors over 1 cm in diameter were correctly diagnosed. Ultrasound also allows the measurement of the depth dimension of thyroid goiters and nodules. It enables the clinician to follow the course of thyroid masses even while the patient is on suppressive therapy, and to ascertain hemorrhage or tumor as the cause of changes in thyroid size. Improved estimation of thyroid volume is helpful for 131I dose calculation. The method is safe and without contraindications. Lesions less than 1 cm in diameter escape detection, and those over 4 cm in diameter frequently contain areas of cystic or hemorrhagic degeneration and give a "mixed" echogram pattern. Various types of solid abnormalities are not reliably differentiated. Correlation with the isotope scan, history and physical examination is imperative for accurate interpretation of echograms.