[Value of color-coded Doppler sonography in the differential diagnosis of nodular thyroid gland changes].

Aim: The incidence of functional autonomous adenomas, detected in every second nodular goiter by scintigraphic methods is very high in an area of iodine deficiency. The color-coded Doppler sonography (CCDS) as a diagnostic tool in differentiating thyroid nodules is discussed controversially.

Methods: In this prospective study we investigated the value of CCDS in 200 patients with nodular thyroid alterations compared with 99m-Technetium (Tc) scintigraphy.

Results: Focal maximas of Tc-uptake were detected in 22.5% of all patients, and 44.5% of the thyroid nodules showed increased vascularity. There was no correlation between nodular vascularity and thyroid 99m-Tc uptake (TcTU). In contrast to this we could demonstrate a significant relation between vascularity and the diameter of the nodule (p < 0.0001). The results are discussed in the context of method specific limitations of ultrasound examinations.

Conclusion: Our results confirm that CCDS has no great importance in the differentiation of thyroid nodules. Scintigraphy remains the diagnostic method of choice to assess the topographic thyroid function.