AUTHOR=Kim Soo Chin , Ryoo Inseon , Sun Hye Young
TITLE=Hyperintense Thyroid Incidentaloma on Time of Flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology
VOLUME=9
YEAR=2018
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2018.00417
DOI=10.3389/fendo.2018.00417
ISSN=1664-2392
ABSTRACT=Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of thyroid incidentaloma with hypersignal intensity on the time of flight magnetic resonance (TOF-MR) angiography and correlation with ultrasound (US).
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 3,505 non-contrast TOF-MR angiography performed at our institution between September 2014 and May 2017. Two radiologists correlated the thyroid incidentalomas detected on TOF-MR angiography with US features that were obtained within a three-month interval between MR and US examinations in consensus.
Results: The prevalence of hyperintense thyroid nodules incidentally detected by TOF-MR angiography was 1.2% (43/3,505 patients). Among these, 35 people (77.8%) underwent US examinations, and a total of 45 hyperintense thyroid nodules were detected by US studies. Of these 45 nodules, more than 70% were categorized as benign on US exams. Fine needle aspiration was performed on nine nodules according to indications recommended by the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology. All except one high-suspicion thyroid nodule were confirmed as benign (Bethesda 2) on cytologic examination. The high-suspicion nodule on US showed a nondiagnostic result (Bethesda 1). However, this nodule collapsed after aspiration of thick colloid.
Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that the most hyperintense thyroid nodules detected on TOF-MR angiography were benign. Therefore, if a hyperintense incidentaloma is found on TOF-MR angiography, the thyroid nodule is more likely to be benign. We believe that these findings could offer additional information for further clinical management.