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


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Rommel
O
O
Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, BG-Kliniken Bergmannsheil.
Tegenthoff
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000098:blood supply*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
Die Screening-Untersuchung der Schilddrüse im Rahmen der forbkodierten Duplexsonographie hirnvessorgender Arterien.