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Related Experiment Videos

Thyroid gland after total laryngectomy: CT appearance

J L Weissman1, H D Curtin, J T Johnson

  • 1Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA 15213, USA.

Radiology
|May 13, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Computed tomographic (CT) scans of the neck after total laryngectomy can show normal thyroid tissue appearing as asymmetric masses. Familiarity with these varied appearances prevents misdiagnosis of thyroid tissue as tumor.

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Area of Science:

  • Radiology
  • Head and Neck Surgery
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Post-total laryngectomy, the appearance of the normal thyroid gland on computed tomographic (CT) scans can be challenging to interpret.
  • High or heterogeneous attenuation of thyroid parenchyma has been previously misinterpreted as tumor on CT studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the computed tomographic (CT) appearance of the normal thyroid gland after total laryngectomy.
  • To reduce misdiagnosis of thyroid tissue as tumor on neck CT scans.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of CT scans of the neck.
  • Data collected from 20 patients who underwent total laryngectomy and subsequent neck CT between January 1996 and August 1997.

Main Results:

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  • Thyroid tissue was present unilaterally in 14 patients and bilaterally in six.
  • Of the 26 remaining thyroid lobes, 19 showed homogeneously high attenuation and six showed heterogeneous high attenuation.
  • Thyroid tissue appeared as unilateral or bilateral asymmetric masses, with varied attenuation patterns.

Conclusions:

  • Normal thyroid tissue after total laryngectomy can present as asymmetric masses on neck CT.
  • The varied CT appearance, including high and heterogeneous attenuation, is crucial for accurate interpretation.
  • Understanding these findings can prevent misdiagnosis of thyroid tissue as malignancy.