Hyperintense Thyroid Incidentaloma on Time of Flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography

• Main Authors: Soo Chin Kim, Inseon Ryoo, Hye Young Sun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2018-07-01
• Series: Frontiers in Endocrinology
• Subjects: time of flight magnetic resonance angiography; incidental findings; thyroid nodules; sonography; incidentaloma
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fendo.2018.00417/full

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.