Study of the Associations between Color Doppler Ultrasound Grading of Hyperthyroidism and Biochemical Data on Thyroid Function

Abstract

Objective. The main study objective was to investigate the correlation between the color Doppler ultrasound grading of hyperthyroidism and the biochemical data of thyroid function. Methods. Seventy-six patients were diagnosed with hyperthyroidism based on clinical and laboratory data at our hospital. The patients were examined using color Doppler ultrasound and laboratory investigations before starting 131I treatment. First, patients were divided into two groups based on the blood flow distribution determined by ultrasound. If the blood flow signal in the parenchyma was scattered and thinned, with dispersive points and discontinuous streaky distribution, the blood flow distribution area in the sample frame was less than or equal to 1/2 of the sample frame area and was judged to be level 1. If the parenchyma was filled with diffuse blood flow signals or if most areas had depicted rich blood flow distribution when the area of blood flow distribution in the sampling frame was greater than 1/2 of the sampling frame area, it was judged to be level 2. Then, the correlations between color Doppler ultrasound grading and biochemical data of thyroid function were analyzed. The indices included FT3, FT4, TSH, anti-TG, anti-TPO, and TRAb. Parameters of thyroid homeostasis, including thyroid’s secretory capacity (SPINA-GT), the total deiodinase activity (SPINA-GD), Jostel’s TSH index, and the thyrotroph thyroid hormone sensitivity index (TTSI), were calculated and compared. Results. Correlations were noted between color Doppler ultrasound grading and FT3, FT4, TRAb, SPINA-GT, TSHI, and TTSI. Moreover, FT3, FT4, TRAb, SPINA-GT, TSHI, and TTSI were higher in level 2 patients compared with level 1 patients. Conclusion. Correlations were noted between color Doppler ultrasound grading and biochemical data of thyroid function.

TSH receptor antibody as a predictor of difficult robotic thyroidectomy in patients with Graves’ disease

“…This association may be due to the role of TRAb in increasing thyroid vascularity [ 5 , 24 ]. Both thyroid vascularity and peak systolic velocity of the superior thyroid vessels are associated with TRAb titer [ 4 , 25 , 26 ], as TRAb stimulates TSH receptors which have a proangiogenic role. Because TSH receptor is expressed on human dermal microvascular endothelial cells, TSH stimulates angiogenesis by promoting capillary network formation [ 27 ].…”

“…Thus, intraoperative blood loss and the risk of postoperative hematoma are greater in patients with GD than other thyroid diseases [ 2 , 3 ]. Thyroid hypervascularity in GD arises from increased inflammation and angiogenesis, driven by autoantibodies that stimulate the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TRAb) [ 4 , 5 ]. Although TRAb concentration is clinically important and is indicative of GD severity [ 6 ], its association with operation outcomes remains unclear.…”

Thyroid ultrasound pattern in primary hypothyroidism is similar to Graves’ disease: a report of three cases

“…However, most researchers have not identified and comprehensively characterized patients with primary hypothyroidism [ 5 – 7 ]. The authors likely assumed that Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is hypothyroidism, although the same diagnostic criteria of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are also applied in GD, namely hypoechogenicity of the thyroid parenchyma and abundance of antibodies to thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin (TGAb) [ 8 ]. Moreover, the histopathological features of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are associated with diffuse heterogeneity on ultrasound and elevated antibodies only in 50–60% cases [ 9 ].…”