Lymphadenopathy in Autoimmune Thyroiditis: Paratracheal Lymph Nodes are Indeed Crucial

Authors:

Brosche S, Sahlmann CO, Meller J and Bouter C*

DOI: 10.23880/oaje-16000108

Volume 1, Issue 2

Abstract

Cervical lymphadenopathy is common in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and supposed to be pathognomic for the disease if found in the paratracheal compartment (Robbins level VI). The aim of this prospective study is the extensive characterization of all cervical lymph node compartments in order to determine the significance of sonographic visible cervical lymphnodes in autoimmune thyroiditis. The study comprises 32 consecutive autoimmune thyroiditis patients and 32 controls without any thyroid pathologies. All patients underwent high resolution ultrasound and all visible lymph nodes were evaluated in all cervical levels by size, volume, S/L-ratio, appearance, vascularity and structural changes. In total, 84 lymph nodes in Robbins level VI were detected in the group of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis whereas the control group showed 2 positive lymph nodes. Lymph nodes in Robbins level VI were significantly smaller compared to lymph nodes in other cervical compartments with 54% of lymph nodes

Keywords:

Robbins level; Lymph Nodes; Autoimmune Thyroiditis; Lymphadenopathy; Thyroid

View PDF