Computed Tomography Features of Incidentally Detected Diffuse Thyroid Disease
Table 1
Frequency analysis of CT features of normal thyroid and diffuse thyroid disease in 209 patients.
CT features
Normal thyroid
Diffuse thyroid disease
value
Degree of attenuation
Iso-
130 (82.8)
18 (34.6)
<0.0001
Low
27 (17.2)
34 (65.6)
High
0 (0)
0 (0)
Pattern of attenuation
Homogeneous
142 (90.4)
17 (32.7)
<0.0001
Inhomogeneous
14 (8.9)
35 (67.3)
Heterogeneous
1 (0.6)
0 (0)
Size of thyroid gland
Normal
134 (85.4)
38 (73.1)
0.0749
Increased
22 (14.0)
14 (26.9)
Decreased
1 (0.6)
0 (0)
Margin of thyroid gland
Smooth
153 (97.5)
40 (76.9)
<0.0001
Lobulated
4 (2.5)
12 (23.1)
Pattern of enhancement
Homogeneous
152 (96.8)
22 (42.3)
<0.0001
Inhomogeneous
5 (3.2)
30 (57.7)
Heterogeneous
0 (0)
0 (0)
Data are number of cases, with percentage in parentheses. According to the measured HU value in the thyroid parenchyma on nonenhanced CT, the degree of parenchymal attenuation was classified as iso- (from 100 HU to 180 HU), low (<100 HU), and high (>180 HU).
