Enhancement in thyroid ultrasonography was investigated with thyroid lymphography by injection of Lipiodol into thyroid nodules in 50 patients. On plain thyroid ultrasonography (PU), the echo levels of normal and tumorous portions of the thyroid glands were evaluated. Then, the echo level ratios (P-N/T) were calculated. Moreover, by the same method, the echo level ratios between normal and tumorous portions of the thyroid glands were calculated 6 hours after Lipiodol injection (E-N/T), when the greatest enhancement was anticipated.
The mean value of P-N/T was 1.305, and that of E-N/T was 1.474. The echo level ratio was significantly elevated in the enhancement method (p<0.0014). We concluded that the enhancement is obtained with Lipiodol injection into the normal portion of the thyroid glands, regardless of whether the tumor is benign or malignant and with or without cystic degeneration. This method is useful in promoting quality and location diagnosis of thyroid nodules.
N: echo level value in the normal portion of thyroid gland
T: echo level value in the tumorous portion of thyroid gland
N/T: echo level ratio
