Christina Schraml1, Karsten Mssig2, Petros Martirosian1, Nina F. Schwenzer1, Andreas Boss1, Claus D. Claussen3, Hans U. Hring2, Bernd Balletshofer2, Fritz Schick
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology,
Section on Experimental Radiology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen,
BW, Germany; 2Department of Internal Medicine IV, University
Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, BW, Germany; 3Department of
Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, BW, Germany
Thyroid inflammation pathologies are related to changes in thyroid tissue perfusion which cannot be quantified absolutely by the established imaging modalities. The aim of the present study was to investigate thyroid perfusion in autoimmune inflammatory thyroid diseases (Graves-Basedow and Hashimotos thyroiditis) by using an arterial spin-labeling approach working without contrast media administration. Perfusion maps of diagnostic quality were created by means of the extended Bloch equations. Perfusion values were calculated by ROI-analysis revealing significantly different perfusion values in the examined patient groups in comparison to healthy volunteers. Perfusion imaging may be helpful in diagnosis and monitoring of thyroid inflammation pathologies.