Ultrasound image of thyroid gland in population older than 65 years

Aim: The assessment of the correlation between the ultrasound image of thyroid gland and the subjective symptoms in patients older then 65 years.

Materials and methods: The investigated group constituted of 146 individuals older then 65 years (101 women (69%), mean age: 73,6 and 45 men (31%), mean age: 72,8), with negative thyroid diseases history. A survey containing 10 questions concerning the major manifestations of hypo/hyperthyroidism was carried out. All respondents underwent thyroid ultrasound examination. The ultrasound images was compared with the signs of hypo/hyperthyroidism.

Results: There were some deviations from the norm of thyroid ultrasound examination found in 106 patients (73%). The focal changes: in 96 patients (66%), autoimmune thyroditis in 15 individuals (10%); multinodular hyperplastic goiter in 9 (6%). There was no statistically significant correlation between the presence of focal changes and the number of signs of hypothyroidism (p=0,13), the number of signs of hyperthyroidism (p=0,6), the age of patient (p=0,61) as well as the volume of thyroid (p=0,34).

Conclusions:

1. The subjective symptoms of thyroid diseases are of a small specificity in patients older then 65 years.

2. The diagnostic procedures performed in the direction of thyroid diseases should be based on the objective examination and ultrasound imaging more then on the subjective manifestations.