Sonographic findings of recurrent disease at the thyroid bed in differentiated thyroid cancer

Pinyaporn On-Ekkasit; Sorasich Subhadhirasakul; Jalat Busaman; Songklod Pakdeejit

doi:10.46475/asean-jr.v25i3.902

Authors

Pinyaporn On-Ekkasit Hatyai hospital
Sorasich Subhadhirasakul Department of radiology, Hatyai Hospital, Songkhla, Thailand
Jalat Busaman Department of radiology, Hatyai Hospital, Songkhla, Thailand
Songklod Pakdeejit Department of radiology, Hatyai Hospital, Songkhla, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46475/asean-jr.v25i3.902

Keywords:

Sonographic findings, thyroid cancer, recurrent disease, thyroid bed

Abstract

Background: Neck ultrasonography (US) is an important tool for evaluating the response to therapy of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and surveillance of a possible disease recurrence.

Objective: To evaluate sonographic findings associated with recurrent disease at the thyroid bed in patients with DTC.

Materials and methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. We reviewed the data of 26 patients with DTC who underwent thyroidectomy and had thyroid bed lesions detected by neck US between January 2016 and December 2023. Sonographic findings of recurrent and non-recurrent lesions were compared.

Results: A total of 26 thyroid bed lesions in 26 patients were identified, including 17 recurrent and nine non-recurrent lesions. The median size was 1.0 centimeters. Sonographic findings of recurrent versus non-recurrent lesions were hypoechoic in 58.8% versus 55.6%, wider-than-tall in 64.7% versus 100%, smooth margins in 82.4% versus 66.7%, and no calcification in 70.6% versus 88.9%. There was no significant difference in sonographic findings between recurrent and non-recurrent lesions. All 13 patients who had recurrent lesions with available laboratory results had elevated serum Tg and/or TgAb levels.

Conclusion: The sonographic findings alone could not distinguish the recurrent from non-recurrent lesions at the thyroid bed in patients with DTC. Clinical and laboratory results should be correlated to determine the need for further investigations.

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