International Journal of Medical and Health Research

Authors
Bhupinder Singh, Sat Pal Aloona, NS Neki

Abstract
Objective: to assess the value of ultrasonography in evaluating the subclinical thyroid disorders. Methods: In this study 50 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and 50 patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism, were included those visiting Opd/Indoor wards of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, attached to Government Medical College Amritsar. A written informed consent was taken from all the patients or the surrogates informer of the patients prior to including them in this study. Subclinical thyroid dysfunction was defined as normal serum free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) in the presence of high (subclinical hypothyroidism), or low-suppressed (subclinical hyperthyroidism) serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels. Ultrasonography thyroid examination was done by Radiology department. It was done by real time scanner, Esoate, Philips Enviser And Hd 11 Xe with multifrequency transducer curvillenear of 3.5 -5 MHZ and by linear probe of 5- 10 MHZ. The size, echogenecity, echotexture, nodules whether solitary or multinodular goitre were seen. Results: The study population included 50 patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism and 50 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism in the age group of 20- 60 years. Subclinical thyroid disorders were seen more common between 31-60 years of age, and on ultrasonography thyroid size was increased by 14% in subclinical hyperthyroidism versus 4% sub clinical hypothyroidism, coarse echotexture was seen only in subclinical hypothyroidism, echogenecity was increased in 22% cases of subclinical hyperthyroidism, decreased in 30% cases of subclinical hypothyroidism whereas thyroid nodules were more common in subclinical hypothyroidism. Conclusion: The study revealed that subclinical thyroid disorders were more common in the age group 31-60 years and it was 64% in age between 41-60 years. Subclinical hyperthyroidism was more common in males while subclinical hypothyroidism in females Thyroid size increases by 14% in cases of subclinical hyperthyroidism disorders and it was approximately normal in subclinical hypothyroidism while coarse echotexture were more common in subclinical hypothyroidism than hyperthyroidism.