Combined Imaging Diagnosis of Tc-Pertechnetate Thyroid Scintigraphy and Ultrasonography in Autoimmune Thyroiditis of Young Children: A Case Report

Received 7/19/2002; accepted 8/7/2002. For correspondence or reprints contact: Yu-Wen Chen M.D., Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Koahsiung, 100 ShihChuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan. Tel: (886)7-3121101 ext. 7153, Fax: (886) 7-3117521, E-mail: [email protected] Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis is the major cause of hypothyroidism for young children; however, it is rare before the age of four years. In clinic, the same sequela will be developed due to hypothyroidism resulting from both of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis and congenital hypothyroidism. Early and accurate diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis becomes very important to prevent the tragedy for young children. In this article, we present a four-year-old boy who was diagnosed as hypothyroidism due to poor appetite and short stature. Typical thyroid scintigraphic and ultrasonographic findings of autoimmune thyroiditis were identified in the patient. Significant elevation of serum antibodies of anti-thyroglobulin and anti-peroxidase were demonstrated later. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis was diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology, finally. We discussed the value of image diagnosis for autoimmune thyroiditis.