scholarly journals The Role of Ultrasound in Hypothyroidism, Technique, Differential Diagnosis and Follow-Up

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hakan Baş

In hypothyroidism, which is as old as humanity, ultrasound has been the first and most important imaging examination in recent decades. This disease is involved in almost all steps in the spectrum from inflammatory diseases to cancer of the thyroid gland. Thyroid ultrasound is a critical tool in the differential diagnosis of hypothyroidism. if thyroid antibodies are negative. It is helpful to determine whether the thyroid is present and to visualize the parenchyma. In a hypothyroid patient, the US may lead to cost savings. if a typical autoimmune pattern is present on US, as a cost-reducing move, further investigations may not be required for the diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Moreover, the ultrasound image may contribute to the decision process whether to treat patients with positive antithyroid antibodies who are euthyroid or have only a mild subclinical hypothyroidism.

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
O L Rueda Ochoa ◽  
L R Bons ◽  
S Rohde ◽  
K E L Ghoud ◽  
R Budde ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Thoracic aortic diameters have been associated with cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis. However, limited evidence regarding the role of thoracic aortic diameters as risk markers for major cardiovascular outcomes among women and men exist. Purpose To evaluate the independent associations between crude and indexed ascending and descending aortic (AA and DA) diameters with major cardiovascular outcomes among women and men and to provide optimal cutoff values associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Methods and results 2178 women and men ≥55 years from the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study underwent multi-detector CT scan of thorax. Crude diameters of the AA and DA were measured and indexed by height, weight, body surface area (BSA) and body mass index (BMI). Incidence of stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure (HF), cardiovascular and all-cause mortality were evaluated during 13 years of follow-up. Weight-, BSA-, or BMI-indexed AA diameters showed significant associations with total or cardiovascular mortality in both sexes and height-indexed values showed association with HF in women. Crude AA diameters were associated with stroke in men and HF in women. For DA, crude and almost all indexed diameters showed significant associations with either stroke, HF, cardiovascular or total mortality in women. Only weight-, BSA- and BMI-indexed values were associated with total mortality in men. For crude DA diameter, the risk for stroke increased significantly at the 75th percentile among men while the risks for HF and cardiovascular mortality increased at the 75th and 85th percentiles respectively in women. Conclusions Our study suggests a role for descending thoracic aortic diameter as a marker for increased cardiovascular risk, in particular for stroke, heart failure and cardiovascular mortality among women. The cut points for increased risk for several of cardiovascular outcomes were below the 95th percentile of the distribution of aortic diameters.


Author(s):  
Coda Marco ◽  
Sica Federica ◽  
Finelli Mirko ◽  
Ungaro Gaetano ◽  
Sica Alfonso Marco

The diagnosis from Covid-19 provides the set of several examinations such as: clinical examinations, laboratory examinations, radiographic examinations. Using radiological imaging, RX and chest CT, it is possible to evaluate the impairment of lung function and thanks to this aspect it is possible to define the severity and clinical conditions of the patient. In this way, it allows timely therapeutic intervention especially if the patient shows a mild condition in such a way as to avoid the onset of further complications. Chest X-rays allow both an initial assessment of patients and the possibility to perform a differential diagnosis towards other possible causes of lung parenchyma involvement. The CT scan, which highlights the peculiar characteristics of COVID pneumonia, is performed both as diagnostic confirmation and in the patient’s follow-up.


Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmelo Messina ◽  
Rodolfo Bignone ◽  
Alberto Bruno ◽  
Antonio Bruno ◽  
Federico Bruno ◽  
...  

To date, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is included in routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols for several cancers. The real additive role of DWI lies in the “functional” information obtained by probing the free diffusivity of water molecules into intra and inter-cellular spaces that in tumors mainly depend on cellularity. Although DWI has not gained much space in some oncologic scenarios, this non-invasive tool is routinely used in clinical practice and still remains a hot research topic: it has been tested in almost all cancers to differentiate malignant from benign lesions, to distinguish different malignant histotypes or tumor grades, to predict and/or assess treatment responses, and to identify residual or recurrent tumors in follow-up examinations. In this review, we provide an up-to-date overview on the application of DWI in oncology.


2009 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
pp. 915-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
M V Shingde ◽  
M Buckland ◽  
K J Busam ◽  
S W McCarthy ◽  
J Wilmott ◽  
...  

Aims:To perform a clinicopathological analysis of a series of primary cutaneous Ewing sarcomas/primitive neuroectodermal tumours (ES/PNET) to highlight the pathological features, discuss the differential diagnosis, emphasise the role of molecular testing (particularly fluorescence in situ hybridisation, FISH) in diagnosis and outline the patients’ clinical course.Methods:Seven cases of primary cutaneous ES/PNET were identified from the authors’ consultation files.Results:The patients were aged 16–61 years (median 25). Five were female and two were male. Five cases involved the limbs and two the trunk. Five were initially misdiagnosed (three as carcinoma and two as melanoma). All cases were characterised histologically by sheet-like growth of small round cells with little cytoplasm and showed strong membranous staining for CD99 and positive but variable staining for FLI-1. Six patients showed an EWS rearrangement (five on FISH analysis and one on RT-PCR). All tumours were completely excised. Three patients received adjuvant chemotherapy, one of whom also received radiotherapy. Follow-up was available in all cases (range 11–57 months; median 41). No recurrences or metastases occurred.Conclusions:Although rare, primary cutaneous ES/PNET should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous “small blue cell tumours”. Immunostaining for FLI-1 and molecular testing for evidence of an EWS rearrangement are useful ancillary investigations to confirm the diagnosis. The prognosis of primary cutaneous ES/PNET appears to be more favourable than extracutaneous ES/PNET.


Author(s):  
Sara Naybandi Atashi ◽  
Zeinab Naderpour ◽  
Keyvan Goharimoghadam ◽  
Morteza Saeedi

In recent months, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a significant global health problem that has a tremendous negative impact on the human being, and almost all countries of the world have been affected by the disease. CT imaging techniques have an important role in the primary diagnosis of pneumonia secondary to COVID-19; moreover, the level of pulmonary involvement in CT scan is one of the criteria for disease severity in the acute phase of COVID-19 pneumonia. Still, the role of CT scan in the follow-up period is unknown.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan O. Aasly

The first families with LRRK2 related Parkinson’s disease (PD) were presented around 15 years ago and numerous papers have described the characteristics of the LRRK2 phenotype. The prevalence of autosomal dominant PD varies around the world mainly depending on local founder effects. The highest prevalence of LRRK2 G2019S PD in Norway is located to the central part of the country and most families could be traced back to common ancestors. The typical Norwegian LRRK2 phenotype is not different from classical PD and similar to that seen in most other LRRK2 families. The discovery of LRRK2 PD has allowed us to follow-up multi-incident families and to study their phenotype longitudinally. In the Norwegian LRRK2 families there has been a significantly higher incidence of inflammatory diseases like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis that seen in other PD populations. Recent studies in LRRK2 mechanisms have indicated that this protein may be crucial in initiating disease processes. In this short survey of 100 Norwegian mutation carriers followed through more than 15 years are presented. The prevalence of inflammatory diseases among these cases is highlighted. The role of LRRK2 in the conversion process from carrier status to PD phenotype is still unknown and disease generating mechanisms important for initiating LRRK2 PD are still to be identified.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Molina Collada ◽  
Katerine López Gloria ◽  
Isabel Castrejón ◽  
Juan Carlos Nieto-González ◽  
Javier Rivera ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To determine the usefulness of power Doppler (PD) ultrasound (US) to predict rheumatoid arthritis (RA) development in patients with clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA). Methods Retrospective analysis of a US unit cohort over a 1-year period. Patients with CSA and no previous diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis (IA) were included for analysis. All underwent bilateral US examination of the hands and/or feet according to the EULAR guidelines. Active US inflammation was defined as PD synovitis and/or tenosynovitis ≥1 at any location. RA diagnosis according to clinician criteria 6 months after the US examination was checked. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to investigate possible predictive factors of RA development. Results A total of 110 CSA patients (80 females, mean age 53.6 years) were included for analysis. After 6 months of follow-up, 14 (12.7%) developed RA and 34 (30.9%) IA. US active inflammation was present in 38 (34.5%) patients (28.2% showed PD synovitis and 18.2% PD tenosynovitis). Multivariate analysis showed that ACPA (OR 1.0003; 95% CI 1.002–1.006) and ESR (OR 1.054; 95% CI 1.016–1.094) were significantly associated with the detection of US active inflammation at baseline. Only PD tenosynovitis was found to be an independent predictive factor of an evolution towards RA (OR 6.982; 95% CI 1.106–44.057) and IA (OR 5.360; 95% CI 1.012–28.390). Conclusion US is able to detect features of subclinical inflammation in CSA patients, especially in those with higher ESR and ACPA values. Only PD tenosynovitis at baseline US assessment was found to be an independent predictor of RA and IA development in CSA patients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 04 (03) ◽  
pp. E70-E78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Brunetti ◽  
Francesca Tamarozzi ◽  
Calum Macpherson ◽  
Carlo Filice ◽  
Markus Piontek ◽  
...  

AbstractThe introduction of imaging techniques in clinical practice 40 years ago changed the clinical management of many diseases, including cystic echinococcosis (CE). For the first time cysts were clearly seen before surgery. Among the available imaging techniques, ultrasound (US) has unique properties that can be used to study and manage cystic echinococcosis. It is harmless, can image almost all organs and systems, can be repeated as often as required, is portable, requires no patient preparation, is relatively inexpensive and guides diagnosis, treatment and follow-up without radiation exposure and harm to the patient. US is the only imaging technique which can be used in field settings to assess CE prevalence because it can be run even on solar power or a small generator in remote field locations. Thanks to US classifications, the concept of stage-specific treatments was introduced and because US is repeatable, the scientific community has gained a clearer understanding of the natural history of the disease. This paper reviews the scope of US in CE, describes its strengths and weaknesses compared to other imaging techniques and its relationship with serodiagnosis and discusses sonographic features that may be helpful in differential diagnosis.


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