Ectopic thyroids have lower computed tomography attenuation values than orthotopic thyroids.

PURPOSE: To determine whether ectopic thyroid had the same computed tomography (CT) value as orthotopic thyroid. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with 23 ectopic thyroids and 23 controls with orthotopic thyroids underwent CT scans and were included in this retrospective study. The CT images were reviewed in a blinded fashion by two radiologists. Independent-Samples T-test was used for comparison of CT attenuation values between two groups. RESULTS: Ectopic thyroids had significantly lower non-enhanced attenuation (91.04 ± 5.97 Hounsfield Units vs. 106.56 ± 4.06 Hounsfield Units, P = 0.038) and contrast-enhanced attenuation (141.32 ± 6.42 Hounsfield Units vs. 169.82 ± 4.30 Hounsfield Units, P = 0.001) values than orthotopic thyroids. CONCLUSIONS: Ectopic thyroids have lower CT attenuation values than orthotopic thyroids probably due to the structural or functional abnormalities. The dysgenesis and pathological changes of the ectopic thyroids may contribute to functional deficiency which finally leads to decrease of the CT attenuation values.

New insight into ectopic thyroid glands between the neck and maxillofacial region from a 42-case study.

BACKGROUND: Ectopic thyroid is a rare disease. In the present study at the 9th People's Hospital in Shanghai, China, 42 patients' ectopic thyroid glands between the neck and maxillofacial region were subjected to a retrospective and transverse study based on data from 1978 to 2012 to explore the natural characteristics of ectopic thyroid. METHODS: The patients' clinical data were collected. In addition, scintigraphy (Tc-99 m, Iodine-131), CT scan, histology and pathology were performed. The protein expression of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1), thyroglobulin (TG), calcitonin (CT), Ki-67 and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were analyzed from paraffin wax-stored specimens of ectopic thyroid tissue compared with those of orthotopic thyroid tissue. RESULTS: There were 42 total ectopic thyroid patients, approximately 1.24 patients per year on average at our hospital. These patients were aged from 6 to 85 years old, and there were 35 females (83.3 %), seven males (16.7 %). In total, 27 of the patients had lingual thyroid (64 %); seven, sublingual thyroid (17 %); five, dual areas occupied by ectopic thyroid (12 %) and three, other types (7 %). The following conditions were also presented: nodular goiter (13 %), adenoma (8.7 %) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (4.3 %), no malignancy and no accompanying ectopic parathyroid. TTF-1 expression was significantly higher in ectopic samples than that in orthotopic samples (P = 0.007), but CT and Ki-67 levels displayed no difference. PTH was negative in ectopic tissue. CONCLUSION: Ectopic thyroid is a rare disease and females were more prone to the disease. The most frequent location was lingual thyroid. Nodular goiter, adenoma and Hashimoto's thyroiditis was observed as orthotopic thyroid without accompanying ectopic parathyroid. TTF-1 was highly expressed in ectopic tissue, which may be related to abnormal embryogenesis leading to the thyroid gland being in an abnormal position. The expression of calcitonin (CT) and Ki-67 was not increased, and there were no malignant cells in any sample, which could indicate that it is not easy for ectopic thyroids to become malignant between the neck and maxillofacial region.

[Evaluation of the accuracy of 16 slices spiral CT in diagnosing maxillary sinus diseases].

PURPOSE: To investigate the diagnostic value of 16 slices spiral CT in maxillary sinus diseases. METHODS: 16 slices spiral CT findings of 58 cases with maxillary sinus diseases confirmed clinically were analyzed, postprocessing of images was performed by using the software package at the workstation. All the cases were proved by surgery. RESULTS: Among 58 cases, there were 30 cases with inflammatory diseases; 6 cases with benign tumors; 8 cases with malignant tumors and 14 cases with fractures. The correct rate of CT diagnosis for location was 100%, and for the nature of the disease was 91.38%. CONCLUSIONS: 16 slices spiral CT was proved to be a good way to show the range of maxillary sinus diseases, the degree of bony change and the relation to surrounding tissues, but determination of the nature of the diseases should be incorporated with clinical and pathological findings.

[CT imaging analysis in 138 cases with orbital fractures].

PURPOSE: To investigate CT findings of orbital fractures in maxillofacial injuries in order to improve clinical diagnostic accuracy. METHODS: CT findings of 138 cases (145 orbits) with orbital fractures in maxillofacial injuries were analyzed. RESULTS: In maxillofacial injuries, orbital fractures of medial and posterolateral walls were most common,which often showed multiple walls fractures. In 145 orbital fractures, there were single wall fractures in 51 cases (35.17%), two-wall fractures in 48 cases (33.10%), three-wall fractures in 31 cases (21.38%) and four-wall fractures in 15 cases (10.35%). CONCLUSIONS: There were complex orbital fracture in maxillofacial injures, CT examination is a very important tool for diagnosis,which should be applied routinely.