[Echography of non-suppurative thyroiditis]. / Echographie des thyroïdites non suppurées.

ABSTRACT

The echographic results of 14 cases of thyroiditis (7 of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT), 5 of De Quervain subacute thyroiditis, 1 of lignous thyroiditis, 1 of Riedel's fibrous thyroiditis) were extracted from a consecutive series of 900 thyroid echograms and analysed retrospectively. Homogeneous hypoechogenicity, similar to that of surrounding muscles, was found in 12 cases. This hypoechogenicity affected all of the thyroid parenchyma diffusely in the 6 cases of CLT where it was present, and by contrast localised to a unilateral lateral or, more often, 2 bilateral lateral plaques, progressively blending with the residual parenchyma in SAT and lignous thyroiditis. Riedel's thyroiditis took the form of a large unilateral hypoechogenic but heterogeneous mass. Echography would seem overall to make a significant contribution in the diagnosis of thyroiditis a diffuse hypoechogenic goitre is very common, though not an absolutely constant feature, in TCL. Bilateral lateral plaques of homogeneous hypoechogenicity are highly suggestive of a diagnosis of SAT.