Pediatric endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism
Thyroid ultrasonography versus scintigraphy for establishing a stepwise imaging approach in pediatric patients with thyroid dysgenesis in resource-limited settings
By Arafa N, Atef S, Elshwimy NKH and 2 others.
Abstract
Introduction
Thyroid scintigraphy and ultrasonography are the two primary imaging modalities widely used for thyroid visualization in pediatric patients with congenital hypothyroidism (CH). These modalities provide complementary information. In resource-limited settings, adopting a stepwise approach for selecting the initial imaging modality is essential. Aim of the study: To compare the diagnostic performance of thyroid ultrasonography, thyroid scintigraphy, and combined modalities in categorizing the type of thyroid dysgenesis. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study included 56 patients with CH due to thyroid dysgenesis. 99mTc thyroid scintigraphy was performed in all patients at diagnosis. Participants underwent thyroid ultrasonographic examination.
Results
Ultrasonography showed the highest sensitivity in diagnosing thyroid hypoplasia (75%) but lacked sensitivity in detecting ectopic thyroid. Thyroid scintigraphy sensitivity was highest for diagnosing ectopic glands and agenesis (100%) but less sensitive for hypoplasia (54.5%). Combining both imaging modalities demonstrated a sensitivity and accuracy of 100% across all types of dysgenesis.