Ultrasonographic characteristics and follow-up in post-partum thyroiditis.

摘要

Post-partum thyroiditis (PPT) is an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid gland, which occurs in the first year after parturition. This study was designed to evaluate sonographic characteristics in a group of PPT patients in Tehran. The study group consisted of 119 PPT patients and 97 normal post-partum women as the control group. Physical examination of thyroid and ultrasonography were carried out monthly in PPT patients until remission for up to 12 months post-partum and 65 patients were followed-up until the end of the study. Visible goiter was detected in 21.8 of patients and 6.7 of the control group (p 10 mU/I still showed hypoechogenicity in thyroid sonography. In conclusion, sonography may be recommended as an adjuvant to laboratory tests in evaluation of PPT patients.