Background:

We aim to elucidate the hystopathologic findings and the necessity of biopsy of the hyperechoic nodules found in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis cases in their follow up.

Material and Method:

The study included those 11 patients who had admitted to the outpatient clinics with the diagnosis of thyroiditis whom with high anti-TPO and/or anti-thyroglobulin antibody levels and hyperechoic thyroid nodule at US examination. Patients scanned with 14 MHz frequency high resolution linear probe. Fine needle aspiration of the individual nodules were performed and the whole data collected to a special archieve. After six months, the hystopathologic findings of the nodules, laboratory and radiologically findings were cumulatively evaluated.

Results:

The mean dimension of the nodules was 19 mm (8-32 mm). In 10 of the cases, the nodules were solitary with hyperechoic homogeneous nature, in the other case there were two nodules, one nodule with the same sonographic appearance as above and the other with minimally cystic degenerations. In neither of the cases, no malignity was reported in the histopathology.

Conclusion:

Owing to benign nature of the homogenous hyperechoic or minimally cystic degenerated hyperechoic nodules found in the Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, for the first step, it is sufficient that these cases be evaluated and can be followedup by clinically and sonographically. In the future studies which accomplished with broad series, the necessity of the biopsy in the evaluation of these depicted nodules in Hashimoto’s throiditis may be eliminated.

Keywords: