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Author Spotlight: Integrating Ultrasound Imaging with Biochemical Markers for Thyroid Disease Diagnosis
Published on: February 9, 2024
Utility of ultra-portable ultrasound devices for the risk-stratification of thyroid dysfunctions in an emergency
Irene Campi1, Laura Fugazzola2,3
1Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Milan, Italy. i.campi@auxologico.it.
Purpose:
We previously showed that the rapid TSH (rTSH) screening is able to detect a high prevalence of thyroid diseases in patients presenting to the Emergency department (ED), with a 7% prevalence of undiagnosed thyroid dysfunctions. The purpose of the present study is to implement our diagnostic flow-chart for thyroid dysfunctions in the ED with a rapid point-of-care thyroid ultrasound (rPOCUS).
Methods:
rPOCUS was performed by an app-based mobile ultrasound device (Lumify® by Philips Healthcare) in patients with suppressed rTSH undergoing urgent procedures requiring iodinate contrast media.
Results:
Our results suggest that rPOCUS is cost- and time-effective for the management of patients with a newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism requiring urgent iodinated contrast media or amiodarone administration. Moreover, this handled US scanner avoided rTSH measurement in patients found to have a normal thyroid gland, and detected some incidental findings (nodules, heterogeneous echotexture), which would lead to further diagnostic investigations.
Conclusion:
We demonstrate, for the first time, that rPOCUS greatly improves the management of patients attending the ED, including the prompt characterization and correct treatment of hyperthyroidism, and the prevention of iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis.
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