Sonographic Characteristics of Ectopic Thyroid

  Objective  To investigate the diagnostic values of gray-scale ultrasound and color Doppler flow imaging for ectopic thyroid.

  Methods  We reviewed the sonographic and clinical records of 13 patients with ectopic thyroid who were treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between September 1997 and May 2014, and analyzed the sonographic characteristics of the ectopic thyroid in comparison with nuclear medical, surgical, and pathological results.

  Results  Nine of the 13 cases underwent ectopic thyroid excision, among which 3 (23.1%) were simple ectopic thyroids, 1 (7.7%) was ectopic thyroid with papillary thyroid carcinoma, 1 (7.7%) complicated with post-therapy changes due to radioiodine treatment for hyperthyroidism, 2 (15.4%) with nodular goiter, 1 (7.7%) with both nodular goiter and lymphocytic thyroiditis, and 1(7.7%) with nodular goiter accompanied by fibrillation, calcification and adenomatoid hyperplasia. In the ultrasonograms, all the 13 cases (100%) of ectopic thyroid displayed sharp borders, 12 cases (92.3%)manifested as regular round or oval shape, and 1 (7.7%) as irregular shape; 6 cases (46.2%) were mixed echoic, 3 (23.1%) were isoechoic, and 4 (30.8%) were hypoechoic; 6 cases (46.2%) were cystosolid masses, and 7 (53.8%) were solid. Color Doppler ultrasound showed rich blood flow in 10 cases (76.9%), strip-like blood flow in 2(15.4%), and spot-like blood flow in 1 (7.7%).

  Conclusion  Typical ultrasound manifestations of ectopic thyroid can provide valuable diagnostic information for making appropriate clinical decisions.