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Paratracheal lymph nodes are a valuable ultrasound imaging to help distinguish thyroiditis from healthy patients, according to a study presented here on September 14 at the 14th International Thyroid Congress (ITC). "The aim of our study was to assess the clinical value of paratracheal lymph nodes as a novel sonographic finding in various thyroiditis compared with healthy subjects," according to Gulhan Akbaba, MD, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, and colleagues.

The study involved a total of 226 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed thyroiditis and 32 healthy subjects. Of the patients, 169 were diagnosed as having Hashimoto Thyroiditis, 46 had Graves' disease, and 11 had subacute thyroiditis. Patients who presented with thyroid nodules were excluded from the study.

Thyroid function tests, thyroid autoantibodies (ATA), anti-TSH receptor antibody (TR-Ab), anti-thyroperoxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (Tg-Ab) were performed in all patients.

Patients in the control group were those showing no signs of nodular thyroid disease, with normal thyrotropin levels, negative ATA, and normal ultrasound (sonographic) thyroid findings.

Paratracheal lymph nodes were determined in 165 (73%) of patients with thyroiditis. This included 75% of patients presenting with Hashimoto Thyroiditis, 65% with Graves' disease, and 73% with subacute thyroiditis, compared with only in 25% of those in the control group (P < .001).

Paratracheal lymph nodes in the control group were statistically smaller and fewer (P < .04).

Although paratracheal lymph nodes were seen more frequently in patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, there was no difference observed between Hashimoto Thyroiditis and Graves' disease.

"Paratracheal lymph nodes are often present in patients with thyroiditis and our study demonstrates that they are a valuable ultrasound finding to help distinguish thyroiditis from healthy subjects," the authors said.

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Source: DG News