Thyroidography in evaluation of thyroid disease.

Thyroidography was performed in 53 patients with various thyroid disorders. In ten patients with hyperthyroidism, the procedure showed the size of the gland and the presence of nodules not suspected clinically or by scanning. It also demonstrated noticeable lymphadenopathy and lymphovenous communications. In nine patients with malignant disease of the thyroid, the pattern of contrast distribution within the gland was distinct from normal and was diagnostic. In addition, involvement of the regional lymph nodes by tumor was identified in three patients. The technique was useful in exclusion of malignant disease in two patients suspected of having cancer of the thyroid. In 26 patients with single thyroid nodules or with multinodular glands studied by this method, 19 were found to have cystic lesions and the other seven solid lesions. These results were compared with scintiscanning and ultrasonography. Based on this data, the technique seems to be useful in evaluation of thyroid disease.