Endocrine Abstracts

This study was conducted to investigate and compare thyroid ultrasonography (US) findings in pediatric patients with goiter and normal thyroid function with positive or negative thyroid autoimmunity. From 2000 to 2020, we reviewed initial thyroid US images in 33 autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) patients and 52 non AITD patients. Our review of the images focused on thyroid parenchymal hypoechogenicity and heterogeneous echopattern subdivided into 2 groups according to severity: hypoechogenicity 1 and 2 (HO1 and HO2) and heterogeneity 1 and 2 (HE1 and HE2). HO1 and HE1 were observed more frequently in the non AITD group (86.5% and 42.3%, respectively), while HO2 and HE2 were observed more frequently in the AITDs group (36.4% and 81.8%, respectively). More patients in the AITDs group showed change of both US groups and thyroid function state within the follow-up periods than in non AITD group (33.3% and 5.77%, respectively). Pediatric patients with underlying AITDs showed more severe parenchyma hypoechogenicity and heterogeneous echopattern compared with non AITD patients with goiter and normal thyroid function.

Key words: ultrasonography, goiter, pediatric, thyroid function