Heterogenous cystic areas in thyroid glands of healthy adolescents: A normal sonographic finding?

Purpose: Sonography of normal thyroid glands shows homogenous echotexture of the parenchyma, which is hyperechogenic relative to the adjacent muscles. Pathologic changes such as thyroid nodules and cysts are rare in children, compared to adults. After puberty they are found more frequently with increasing age, especially in iodine deficiency-related goiter. In recent years we found distinct changes in the sonographic appearance of normal thyroid glands of healthy adolescents, that are not related to thyroid disorders. Material and methods: We present 56 adolescents – 44 girls and 12 boys – with these sonographic…