Frontiers in Endocrinology (Dec 2018)

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features of Normal Thyroid Parenchyma and Incidental Diffuse Thyroid Disease: A Single-Center Study

  • Taewoo Kang,
  • Dong Wook Kim,
  • Yoo Jin Lee,
  • Young Jun Cho,
  • Soo Jin Jung,
  • Ha Kyoung Park,
  • Tae Kwun Ha,
  • Do Hun Kim,
  • Ji Sun Park,
  • Sung Ho Moon,
  • Ki Jung Ahn,
  • Hye Jin Baek

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2018.00746
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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Background: No previous studies have investigated the feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnosis for detecting incidental diffuse thyroid disease (DTD). This study investigated MRI features of normal thyroid parenchyma and incidental DTD.Methods: From January 2008 to December 2017, 387 patients underwent neck MRI in our hospital due to tumor/nodal staging (n = 137), lymphadenopathy (n = 122), inflammatory neck lesion (n = 85), congenital neck lesion (n = 12), and patient request (n = 31). Among them, 375 patients were excluded because of a lack of appropriate histopathological data on the thyroid parenchyma.Results: Among the patients included, 10 had normal thyroid parenchyma, 1 had Hashimoto thyroiditis, and 1 had diffuse hyperplasia. The common MRI features of normal thyroid parenchyma include iso-/slightly high and homogeneous signal intensity on T1/T2-weighted images, normal anteroposterior diameter of the thyroid gland, smooth margin, and homogeneously increased enhancement as compared to adjacent muscle. Hashimoto thyroiditis exhibited high and inhomogeneous signal intensity on T2-weighted images, while diffuse hyperplasia revealed an increased anteroposterior diameter and lobulated margin of the thyroid gland, and inhomogeneous enhancement.Conclusions: MRI may be helpful for detection of incidental DTD.

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