[Screening study of the thyroid gland within the scope of color-coded duplex ultrasound of brain-supplying arteries].

AIM

We undertook this study to establish whether thyroid diseases influence colour-coded Duplex sonography of cerebral arteries and whether colour-coded Duplex sonography is superior to B-mode sonography in detecting pathological changes of the thyroid.

METHOD

In 154 patients the thyroid gland as well as the cerebral arteries were examined by colour-coded Duplex sonography.

RESULTS

In 13% of the examined carotid arteries, stenosis or occlusion was detected. Thyroid diseases were found in 21% of the examined patients. In patients with a goitre, carotid arteries were often severely displaced and thyroid vessels exhibited a low resistance waveform, easily to be confused with cerebral arteries. Colour-coded Duplex sonography provides useful information on thyroid vascularisation: however, differentiation between different types of thyroid nodules seems impossible.

CONCLUSION

Investigation of the thyroid gland during colour-coded Duplex sonography of neck vessels is easy to perform. It is not time-consuming and may yield useful additional information that may help to explain the patient's complaints.