Abstract
Background/aim: This study was performed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of shear wave elastography by virtual touch tissue imaging quantification in patients with diffuse thyroid gland pathology and to differentiate Graves' disease from Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Materials and methods: Thirty patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 22 patients with Graves' disease were evaluated with conventional ultrasonography and shear wave elastography by virtual touch tissue imaging quantification. Thirty healthy participants formed the control group. Ten elastographic measurements of each thyroid lobe were performed in all three study groups. The mean shear wave velocity was calculated and compared between the patients and controls. Results: The mean shear wave velocity of the controls (1.92 ± 0.14 m/s) was significantly lower than that of the patients with Graves' disease (2.71 ± 0.22 m/s) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (2.50 ± 0.20 m/s). Patients with Graves' disease had significantly higher shear wave velocities than those with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Shear wave elastography by virtual touch tissue imaging quantification can be used to discriminate a normal thyroid gland from diffuse thyroid gland pathology after conventional sonography and may assist in the diagnosis of Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Highlights
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and Graves’ disease (GD) are frequently occurring autoimmune thyroid diseases that diffusely affect the thyroid gland
The diagnosis of GD was based on the presence of thyrotoxicosis at the initial examination, a high thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibody titer, and a hypoechoic to heterogeneous pattern with increased vascularity in the thyroid gland on ultrasonography
The diagnosis of HT was based on the presence of a high antithyroglobulin antibody titer, high antithyroid peroxidase antibody titer, or both as well as a hypoechoic to heterogeneous pattern with diffuse goiter and increased or normal vascularity in the thyroid gland on ultrasonography
Summary
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) and Graves’ disease (GD) are frequently occurring autoimmune thyroid diseases that diffusely affect the thyroid gland. Both HT and GD are characterized by lymphocyte infiltration of the thyroid gland [1]. Its peak incidence is from 30 to 60 years of age, and it is 5 to 10 times more frequently seen in female than male patients [3]. Ultrasonography is a useful diagnostic tool for the evaluation of autoimmune thyroid diseases. Both HT and GD are characterized by heterogeneous to hypoechogenic thyroid parenchyma and elevated or decreased vascularity on conventional color Doppler ultrasonography.
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