ABSTRACT

The most common type of autoimmune thyroiditis is Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT), which is the leading cause of hypothyroidism. Although ultrasound examination aids in the diagnosis of the disease, it does not have a specific quantitative value. The aim of this study was to evaluate the parenchymal echogenicity alterations of the thyroid gland in adolescent patients with HT using B-mode gray scale histogram and to reveal the predictive value of this technique in the diagnosis of HT.

A total of 76 patients with HT and 46 healthy controls were prospectively examined by the gray scale histogram analysis method. The analysis included the thyroid echogenicity/strap muscle echogenicity ratio (TESER) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG).

The mean TESER that was significantly lower in the HT group compared to the control group (1.36±0.46 vs 2.24±0.59; p<0.01). There was a negative correlation between anti-TPO level and TESER in the correlation analysis (r=−0.426, p<0.01). The optimal cut-off value of TESER for the prediction of HT was <1,59 (72% sensitivity, 93% specificity, +likelihood ratio: 11, −LR: 0,30).

Ultrasonographic gray scale histogram values can be used as an auxiliary ultrasound parameter in the diagnosis and follow- up of HT in adolescent patients.

Keywords: Gray scale histogram, hashimoto thyroiditis, adolescent