Feasibility, accuracy, and clinical relevance of a rapid thyroid evaluation during carotid duplex ultrasonography in hypertensive patients.
Carotid ultrasonography can detect thyroid nodules without increasing examination duration. The authors analyzed whether management is influenced by reporting such findings during routine carotid ultrasonography in hypertensive patients vs waiting for 6 months to repeat them. This is a population-based study of 1216 hypertensive patients. During carotid ultrasonography, nodule cystic/solid characteristics and size of thyroid changes were recorded. Patients with nodules were divided into those with nodules reported at the moment of diagnosis (group A) and those reported 6 months after diagnosis (group B). The authors monitored patients who underwent thyroid treatment 12 months after carotid ultrasonography. A total of 255 participants had thyroid nodules detected on screening and 99 patients started therapy after discovery. Six months later, as expected, there were more patients undergoing thyroid treatment in the group with nodules reported at time of diagnosis. This difference between groups was not significant, however, 6 months after reporting the nodules, in group B, because the number of patients on therapy significantly increased. Thyroid nodules cannot be ignored during carotid ultrasonography, and reporting their presence is valuable to general practitioners. Thyroid screening during carotid ultrasonography is cost-effective, rapid, sensitive, and specific and may affect the patient's diagnostic and therapeutic management.
Natale
Francesco
F
Department of Cardiology, Second University of Naples, Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy.
Tedesco
Michele Adolfo
MA
Mocerino
Rosa
R
Rinaldi
Genny
G
Tassinario
Guido
G
De Simone
Vincenzo
V
Gregorio
Giovanni
G
Calabrò
Raffaele
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D013974:Thyroxine