Ultrasound for primary imaging of congenital hypothyroidism.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the use of sonography as the primary imaging modality for congenital hypothyroidism (CH).


METHODS
From our regional registry, we reviewed the cases of patients for whom either sonography or (99m)Tc-pertechnetate scanning was performed for CH between 2003 and 2010. Ultrasound studies were reviewed for presence, size, echotexture, vascularity, and location of the thyroid gland. Technetium-99m-pertechnetate scans were evaluated for the presence and location of the thyroid gland. The ultrasound studies were compared with the (99m)Tc-pertechnetate scans. We assessed the use of ultrasound as the primary imaging modality for the evaluation of CH.


RESULTS
We identified the cases of 124 patients (89 girls, 35 boys). Ultrasound studies were available for 121 patients, and (99m)Tc-pertechnetate studies for 62 patients. Three patients were examined only by (99m)Tc-pertechnetate scanning. The final imaging results were normal location with normal size or diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland (n = 47), sublingual thyroid gland (n = 49), agenesis (n = 18), hypoplasia (n = 8), and hemiagenesis (n = 2). Compared with (99m)Tc-pertechnetate scanning, ultrasound had high (100%) specificity and low (44%) sensitivity for detection of sublingual thyroid gland.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest using ultrasound as the primary imaging modality for guiding the treatment of children with CH, potentially decreasing radiation exposure and cost.
Department of Radiology, Pediatric Radiology Section, Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. tsupakul@iupui.edu
Nucharin
N
Supakul
Lisa R
LR
Delaney
Aslam R
AR
Siddiqui
S Gregory
SG
Jennings
Erica A
EA
Eugster
Boaz
B
Karmazyn
D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m