We studied the role of ultrasound assessment of the thyroid gland in detecting amyloid deposition in 9 patients confirmed to have renal amyloidosis because the thyroid gland is a readily accessible organ. Ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland showed a distinctive abnormal appearance in 7 patients. There was enlargement of one or both lobes of the thyroid, a high echogenicity approaching that of the surrounding connective tissue, and a very fine homogeneous echotexture similar to ground glass appearance. Four patients showed dilated follicles in the thyroid gland. The other two patients had normal ultrasound findings. Open wedge biopsy of the thyroid gland in 4 patients, (3 with abnormal ultrasound findings and 1 with normal ultrasound findings) showed amyloid deposits in the 3 patients with abnormal echo findings and no amyloid deposits in the 1 patient with normal findings. In 10 healthy individuals, 10 patients who were just initiated on maintenance hemodialysis and another 10 patients on dialysis for more than 1 year, the thyroid gland was of normal size and appearance in the ultrasound examination. We conclude that ultrasound examination by an experienced radiologist is a useful tool in the diagnosis of thyroid amyloidosis.
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El-Reshaid et al. (1994) studied this question.
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