Ultrasound imaging in diffuse thyroid disorders of children

The diagnosis of diffuse thyroid disorders in children is based mainly on hormone and antibody determinations and a cytologic sample taken by aspiration biopsy. The cytologic sample is not always obtainable in small children or when the thyroid gland is not enlarged. Thyroid antibodies lead to diagnosis only in a proportion of cases. Gamma imaging is not recommended in children because of the radiation risk. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that ultrasound imaging can detect diffuse thyroid disorders in children. Ultrasound images were abnormal in 92% of all subjects; they were abnormal in 97% of cases with thyroiditis and in most cases ultrasound was diagnostic. With antibody determinations, only 60% of the cases of thyroiditis could be diagnosed. Ultrasound imaging--a risk-free method--should be included in the diagnostic investigation of thyroid disorders.