title: Correlation of normal thyroid ultrasonography with thyroid tests.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thyroid disorders are frequently seen in the community. Thyroid ultrasonography (US) is commonly used in the diagnosis of thyroid diseases. The relationship between heterogeneous echogenicity of thyroid gland and thyroid tests are well known.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation of normal US with the thyroid tests. A total of 681 individuals were enrolled in the study. Individuals were separated into two groups as normal (group 1) and hypoechoic (group 2) according to the echogenicity in US. Subjects with nodular thyroid lesions were excluded from the study. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4 (fT4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) values were recorded in both groups and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TRAb) was recorded in individuals with low TSH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  86.1% of individuals in group 1 had normal TSH, 93.7% had normal thyroid antibodies and in 77.6% of individuals, all thyroid tests performed were normal. In the 6.9% of the group 2, all reviewed thyroid tests were normal (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that US is correlated with normal thyroid function tests and is a valuable tool in the prediction of normal thyroid function.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey ; 2 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abbas Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey ; 2 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cafer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey ; 2 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Rıfkı
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Üçler
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey ; 2 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dirikoç
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey ; 2 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Reyhan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ersoy
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey ; 2 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bekir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Çakır
keywords: Thyroid ultrasonography; autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD); normal thyroid tests; thyroid antibodies