[Computer-aided evaluation of ultrasonic images of the thyroid]

Forty-two patients are described. The ultrasound patterns of normal and pathologically changed thyroid glands have been analysed with the aid of a computer. Using several parameters such as run-length histograms, brightness-histograms, middle run length and standard deviation, we are able to classify the patterns of a thyroid lobe or of a part of it into 4 or 5 major groups. The estimation of the benign or malignant character of the lesions with the used parameters must be controlled by further investigation.