Aim: To evaluate the utility of color doppler ultrasonography along with quantitative spectral doppler parameters in the assessment of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Methods: The study was conducted at Department of Radiology, Patna Medical College, Patna, Bihar, India for one year and 100 patients were included in the study. All patients were well informed regarding the study and their consent was obtained. Patients were divided into four groups such as group A (normal); group B (early untreated thyroiditis); group C (chronic thyroiditis under treatment/ follow-up); group D (nodular hyperplasia with thyroiditis) based on grey‑scale ultrasound findings, thyroid function test and auto-antibody levels. Following grey scale examination, Doppler study was performed, and the vascularity of both lobes was assessed. Quantitative spectral doppler parameters including resistivity index (RI) and acceleration time (AT) were recorded. RI and AT values were obtained by measuring automatically from proximal segment of the first main parenchymal branch of the inferior thyroid artery. Results: 100 cases were evaluated with age ranging from 27 years to 55 years with the maximum number of cases in the age group of 41 to 50 years (44%). 32 cases were males and 66 were females, 2 patients identified themselves in other gender category. On assessment of the colour doppler pattern, 36 patients had Pattern 0, 37 patients had Pattern I, 24 patients had Pattern II, and 3 patients had Pattern III. Pattern I was the most common pattern overall (37%) and in category B (48%) and C (50%) patients; pattern 0 was more common in category A(66%); pattern 2 was the commonest pattern in category D patients (46%). On assessment of spectral doppler parameters, mean RI in category A, B, C, D were 0.54, 0.40, 0.47 and 0.48 respectively. Mean AT value in category A, B, C, D were 26.3, 71.5, 47.1, 45.3 respectively. RI values of category B (Early untreated thyroiditis) were significantly lower than category A (Normal). AT values of category B, C and D were significantly longer than AT compared to category A. Statistically significant difference was not found in RI values of category A when compared to category C and D. Significant differentiation could not be made between category C and D on either RI or AT values. Conclusion: Doppler ultrasonography in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a promising diagnostic imaging modality. Routine use of doppler study in addition to greyscale ultrasound is helpful in diagnosis especially in doubtful cases.

Aim: To evaluate the utility of color doppler ultrasonography along with quantitative spectral doppler parameters in the assessment of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Methods: The study was conducted at Department of Radiology, Patna Medical College, Patna, Bihar, India for one year and 100 patients were included in the study. All patients were well informed regarding the study and their consent was obtained. Patients were divided into four groups such as group A (normal); group B (early untreated thyroiditis); group C (chronic thyroiditis under treatment/ follow-up); group D (nodular hyperplasia with thyroiditis) based on grey‑scale ultrasound findings, thyroid function test and auto-antibody levels. Following grey scale examination, Doppler study was performed, and the vascularity of both lobes was assessed. Quantitative spectral doppler parameters including resistivity index (RI) and acceleration time (AT) were recorded. RI and AT values were obtained by measuring automatically from proximal segment of the first main parenchymal branch of the inferior thyroid artery. Results: 100 cases were evaluated with age ranging from 27 years to 55 years with the maximum number of cases in the age group of 41 to 50 years (44%). 32 cases were males and 66 were females, 2 patients identified themselves in other gender category. On assessment of the colour doppler pattern, 36 patients had Pattern 0, 37 patients had Pattern I, 24 patients had Pattern II, and 3 patients had Pattern III. Pattern I was the most common pattern overall (37%) and in category B (48%) and C (50%) patients; pattern 0 was more common in category A(66%); pattern 2 was the commonest pattern in category D patients (46%). On assessment of spectral doppler parameters, mean RI in category A, B, C, D were 0.54, 0.40, 0.47 and 0.48 respectively. Mean AT value in category A, B, C, D were 26.3, 71.5, 47.1, 45.3 respectively. RI values of category B (Early untreated thyroiditis) were significantly lower than category A (Normal). AT values of category B, C and D were significantly longer than AT compared to category A. Statistically significant difference was not found in RI values of category A when compared to category C and D. Significant differentiation could not be made between category C and D on either RI or AT values. Conclusion: Doppler ultrasonography in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a promising diagnostic imaging modality. Routine use of doppler study in addition to greyscale ultrasound is helpful in diagnosis especially in doubtful cases.