Dados do Trabalho

Título

Primum non nocere: US of the post Thyroidectomy Neck.

Introdução e objetivo(s)

Ultrasound is the most commonly used imaging technique for monitoring patients who have undergone thyroidectomy treatment for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). The objective of this study is to provide a pictorial review of the ultrasound evaluation of post-thyroidectomy patients, highlighting the examination protocol, normal and abnormal findings, and common errors.

Método(s)

To conduct the pictorial review, we conducted a thorough review of relevant radiological literature and searched for representative ultrasound cases and pathological correlations.

Discussão

The ultrasound examination for patients who have undergone thyroidectomy includes both the central and lateral compartments, with recurrences being more frequent in the latter. Small nodes in the thyroid bed less than 5 mm in size can be ignored as malignant recurrences are rare. The most reliable sonographic feature of malignant recurrence in a thyroid bed mass is the presence of punctate echogenic foci. However, increased internal vascularity observed through Doppler ultrasound is also a significant predictor of disease recurrence and should prompt fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Ultrasound imaging findings must be correlated with serum thyroglobulin levels for DTC or calcitonin levels for medullary thyroid carcinoma and the overall clinical risk of recurrence. However, central compartment recurrences may not be correlated with thyroglobulin levels.

Conclusões

Radiologists play a vital role in preoperative staging for patients with DTC, and it is essential to be familiar with both normal and pathological findings in thyroidectomized patients to guide clinical management.

Palavras Chave

Ultrasound; thyroidectomy; thyroid neoplasm

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