[Value of sonography in assessing nodular changes of the thyroid in an endemic goiter area]

In an area of endemic goiter 304 patients with an increased thyroid gland were examined by palpation, sonographically and partly scintigraphically. The average age was 37 (12-78) years, the average age of the patients with nodular changes of the thyroid gland 38-44 years. Patients with a diffuse struma were significantly younger with an average age of 33 years. A false-positive enlargement of the thyroid gland established by palpation occurred in 16.1% (n = 49/304). In the sonographic examination 148 out of 304 patients revealed a diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland without provable nodular change. However, in about one third already more or less clearly characterized regressive changes could be observed. In 156 of the 304 patients 109 times solitary nodes and 47 times multinodular changes were established sonographically. In more than one third of all nodular goiters or one fifth of all patients examined a cyst was demonstrated sonographically. Two thirds of the sonographically established nodular changes were, however, solid. In 53 of all 304 examined patients could sonographically be established additional, unexpected nodes which had escaped the palpation and partly also the scintigraphic investigation. In 14% the node suspected by palpation could not be ascertained sonographically. According to the echo structure echo-poor and echo-equal solid nodes dominated. The frequency of carcinomata of the solid nodes was 6.7%. Apart from 4 echo-poorly and 2 complexly structured nodes a carcinoma of the thyroid gland demonstrated itself sonographically to the same echo. Finally conclusions are drawn for the diagnostics of the thyroid gland in the endemic area of goiter.