Purpose or Case Report: To evaluate the association between thyroid echogenicity and heterogeneity seen on ultrasonography (US) and thyroid function in pediatric and adolescent populations with autoimmune diffuse thyroid diseases (AITD).
Methods & Materials: From 2000 to 2023, we reviewed thyroid ultrasound (US) images and thyroid function statuses in 133 children and adolescent AITD patients. Our review of the images focused on decreased echogenicity and heterogeneity, which were classifed into four grades.
Results: Among patients with overt hypothyroidism or overt hyperthyroidism, 94.2% (65/69) showed a US grade of 3 or 4. In patients with subclinical hyper/hypothyroidism or euthyroidism, 45.3% (29/64) showed grades 1 or 2. There were no overt hyper/hypothyroidism patients with US grade 1. When we compared US grades according to thyroid status, more severe thyroid dysfunction was signifcantly associated with higher US grade (p = 0.047). Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level differed signifcantly according to US grades when we evaluated hyperthyroid (p= 0.035) and hypothyroid (p = 0.027) states independently. 11 patients showed both US grade and thyroid function status changes on follow-up US.
Conclusions: In children and adolescent AITD patients, there was an association between decreased echogenicity and heterogeneity on US and thyroid dysfunction