Preliminary study on real-time tissue elastography for evaluation the degree of fibrosis in Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation between strain ratio(SR) of real-time tissue elastography (RTE) and the degree of fibrosis in Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT).Methods The SR of 80 HT patients was examined by RTE.The pathological lesions were observed by using optical microscope and those patients were divided into 3 groups according to Doniach standard.:the lymphocytic group,the oxyphilic group,and the fibrous group.50 volunteers with normal thyroid functions were enrolled as a control group,the correlation coefficient between the SR and the serum thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) was evaluated and the differences of SR among each group were statistically analyzed.Results The Spearman's correlation coefficient between the SR and the serum TSH was 0.601,which was significant (P ＜ 0.05).The SR increased in an ascending order among the control group,the lymphocytic group,the oxyphilic group,and the fibrous group(P ＜0.05).As shown on the optical microscope:the lymphocytic group showed the vigorous functioning small follicular which mainly was lymphocyte infiltration in “ + + ～ + + + ” without glands or a few fibrosis; the oxyphilic group showed oxyphilic-changed epithelium mass which mainly were follicular epithelial cells eosinophilic change “ + + + ～ + + + + ” and fibrous tissue hyperplasia“ + ～ + + ”;the fibrous group showed tiny follicular which mainly was fibrous tissue hyperplasia “ + + + ～ + + + + ”.Conclusions There is certain linear relationship between SR and fibrosis degree of HT.The heavier the degree of fibrosis and the greater the SR was,the worse the thyroid function would be. Key words: Ultrasonography; Hashimoto disease; Fibrosis; Strain ratio