[Nuclear magnetic resonance study of the thyroid tissue according to its histology]

To date, T1 and T2 proton relaxation times in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance have not been widely studied in thyroid disorders. In an earlier study, we compared 99mTc and histological data with T1 and T2 relaxation times. We found that nodules heterogeneity affect NMR results. This should therefore be taken into account when interpreting magnetic resonance images. The purpose of the present study was to compare T1 and T2 in thyroid tissues according to the diagnosis and the different histological components which had been quantitative defined by histomorphometric methods. 71 samples from 43 patients were examines: 35 euthyroid multiheteronodular goitres, 5 hot nodules, 2 papillary carcinomas, 1 Basedow's disease. The results show that image interpretation according to histology is difficult.