Comparative study of ultrasound and computed tomography for incidentally detecting diffuse thyroid disease.
The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic values of thyroid ultrasound (US) and neck computed tomography (CT) in incidentally detecting diffuse thyroid disease (DTD). A single radiologist made US and CT diagnoses of incidentally detected DTD in 130 consecutive patients before thyroidectomy for various malignancies. Histopathologic examinations confirmed normal thyroid (n = 80), Hashimoto thyroiditis (n = 20), non-Hashimoto lymphocytic thyroiditis (n = 28) and diffuse hyperplasia (n = 2). Receiver operating characteristic curves revealed that the best diagnostic indices of both imaging methods were achieved on the basis of two or more abnormal imaging findings. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of US and CT in incidentally detecting DTD by this classification were 72% and 72%, 87.5% and 91.3% and 81.5% and 83.8%, respectively. Thyroid US and neck CT have similar diagnostic values for differentiating incidental DTD from normal thyroid.
Department of Radiology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea. Electronic address: dwultra@lycos.co.kr.
Dong Wook
DW
Kim
Department of Pathology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.
Soo Jin
SJ
Jung
Department of General Surgery, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.
Tae Kwun
TK
Ha
Department of General Surgery, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.
Ha Kyoung
HK
Park
Department of Surgery (Busan Cancer Center), Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.
Taewoo
T
Kang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media
Autoimmune thyroiditis; Computed tomography; Diffuse thyroid disease; Thyroid; Ultrasound