Aspects of ultrasonic diagnostics of chronic thyroiditis

The results of an echographic study of patients with chronic thyroiditis were studied. Depending on the volume of the thyroid gland, all patients were divided into 3 groups (hypertrophic form, atrophic form, with normal volume). The study of the echostructure of the thyroid gland in autoimmune inflammation made it possible to distinguish types of changes in the gland tissue and indicators of linear blood flow velocities of varying severity. In thyroiditis, pathognomonic decreased echogenicity of the parenchyma and linear hyperechoic inclusions. In hyperechoic structures, the parenchyma is replaced by connective tissue. In the hypertrophic form of chronic thyroiditis, there is a significant increase in linear blood flow velocities by a factor of two, in the atrophic form - a decrease in the peak systolic and end diastolic blood flow velocities, in patients with a normal gland volume in a state of hypo- and euthyroidism, there are no significant changes in thyroid blood flow.