Contributions of radiology imaging in benign thyroid pathology

Thyroid pathology is a very common condition it is usually benign and discovered by chance. This article discusses the different imaging techniques their contributions and their limits in this type of pathology. Thus the most utilized diagnostic investigation methods involve ultrasound scintigraphy and cytology. The first line investigation ultrasound permits identification of a nodule of less than 5 mm and abnormal ultrasound structure in the case of inflammatory damage. Aspiration cytology is indicated in the case of nonpalpable nodules and in the case of recurrent lymph nodes after thyroidectomy for cancer. It makes it possible to determine the nature of 60 to 70% of nodules preoperatively and to decrease by 50% the level of surgical procedures for benign nodules the occurrence of hematoma during the puncture constitutes the only complication and is rare. Thyroid scintigraphy does not allow determination of the malignancy of the disease but it allows determination of the cold or hot nature of the nodule establishing the diagnosis and providing post-therapeutic monitoring. This article also mentions several thyroid pathologies for which these investigations are indicated in order to confirm diagnosis such as nodular pathology goiter inflammatory pathology and functional thyroid malfunction whose primary etiologies are Graves disease adenoma and toxic nodular goiter as well as thyrotoxic thyroid disease. In this context the other explorations represented by the scanner and by magnetic resonance imaging are rarely used their primary indication remains medullary cancer.