[Value of color-coded Doppler sonography in the differential diagnosis of nodular thyroid gland changes].

AIM

The incidence of functional autonomous adenomas, detected in every second nodular goiter by scintigraphic methods is very high in an area of iodine deficiency. The color-coded Doppler sonography (CCDS) as a diagnostic tool in differentiating thyroid nodules is discussed controversially.

METHODS

In this prospective study we investigated the value of CCDS in 200 patients with nodular thyroid alterations compared with 99m-Technetium (Tc) scintigraphy.

RESULTS

Focal maximas of Tc-uptake were detected in 22.5% of all patients, and 44.5% of the thyroid nodules showed increased vascularity. There was no correlation between nodular vascularity and thyroid 99m-Tc uptake (TcTU). In contrast to this we could demonstrate a significant relation between vascularity and the diameter of the nodule (p < 0.0001). The results are discussed in the context of method specific limitations of ultrasound examinations.

CONCLUSION

Our results confirm that CCDS has no great importance in the differentiation of thyroid nodules. Scintigraphy remains the diagnostic method of choice to assess the topographic thyroid function.