Thyroid disease is a very common problem that no one is safe from. Of course, in this case, correct and timely diagnosis is extremely important. And often, doctors refer patients to MRI of the thyroid gland.
Of course, people who are faced with the need to undergo a similar procedure are interested in additional information. Do thyroid MRI do? Does diagnosis require preparation? What diseases can be detected? Does the procedure involve any difficulties? Answers to these questions will be useful to many.
What is a study?
MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is by far one of the most accurate diagnostic procedures. With the help of modern equipment, the doctor has the opportunity not only to make scans of internal organs, but also to build their reliable three-dimensional models.
In fact, the basis of this technique is the behavior of a hydrogen atom when exposed to a powerful magnetic field. MRI equipment delivers a specific combination of electromagnetic waves to tissues and cells. Special RF coils record changes in the response of hydrogen atoms. All received data is output to a computer that creates pictures.
Thus, a modern doctor has the opportunity to fully examine the desired organ (including the thyroid gland) without surgical intervention. By the way, the results of tomography are very accurate - modern equipment can detect a tumor with a diameter of 1 mm.
Indications for the procedure
There are a huge number of indications for the procedure.
- MRI is recommended for suspected sternal goiter. Thanks to the images, the doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and determine if there is a possibility of surgical treatment.
- Patients are sent to the procedure for whom an increase in the size of the thyroid gland or its abnormal location was detected during palpation.
- To clarify the diagnosis, MRI is performed in the presence of inflammatory processes in the tissues of the thyroid gland.
- Infectious diseases are referred to as indications.
- This study is carried out if there is a suspicion of the presence of foreign bodies in the tissues of the organ.
- MRI also helps to determine the presence of a tumor, to find out its size and exact location.
- The list of indications includes hormonal imbalances, which are accompanied by a sharp change in the patient’s body weight for no apparent reason (for example, the patient did not change the diet or exercise regimen, but still loses or gains weight).
- The procedure is recommended for patients who suffer from constant fatigue, various sleep disorders, sudden mood changes, as these symptoms can also be directly related to the thyroid gland.
- The indications include a suspicion of autoimmune thyroiditis.
Is preparation required
How to prepare for the procedure for checking an organ such as the thyroid gland? MRI does not really require any preparation. There is no need to follow a special diet. Nevertheless, it is important to inform your doctor about all medications you are taking.
Just before the study, you need to change into spacious, comfortable clothes without metal fasteners and buttons. It is important to remove all jewelry, watches and other metal objects.
How is the procedure
In fact, the technique for conducting MRI of the thyroid gland is quite simple. The patient is placed in a special "tube" of the tomograph. By the way, it is quite comfortable. The equipment scans the human body for 30-40 minutes. It is extremely important to try to lie still, as the quality and reliability of the images obtained depends on this.
If we are talking about examining children, patients with mental disorders or severe pain, then a specialist can decide on anesthesia. The procedure is carried out under the constant supervision of a doctor. The results of the study, the doctor can study after 1-2 days.
What thyroid MRI shows
In fact, such a procedure helps to diagnose a lot of pathologies:
- the presence of tumors in the tissues of the thyroid gland;
- changes in organ tissues that are characteristic of the inflammatory process, of one or another infectious disease;
- the presence of a foreign body;
- change in the size of the thyroid gland;
- the appearance of neoplasms in the neck.
Thyroid MRI gives accurate results. However, in some cases additional tests are required. For example, blood tests will help identify a particular infection. If cancer is suspected, the body is checked for abnormal cells and other tumor markers using special tests.
Contraindications
In many cases, the doctor needs to check how the thyroid gland works. MRI is a fairly informative and safe technique. Nevertheless, there are a number of contraindications:
- the presence of metal plates, dental crowns, dentures and inserts inside the patient’s body (such implants will distort the picture and make the procedure uninformative);
- pregnancy is considered a relative contraindication, since today there is no accurate data on the possible negative impact of equipment on the fetus);
- the inability to stay in a static position for a long time (for example, in connection with mental disorders);
- claustrophobia;
- the procedure is not performed for patients in a state of drug or alcohol intoxication;
- MRI is difficult for people with obesity (if body weight is more than 150 kg).
The disadvantages of the method
This diagnostic method, without a doubt, is informative. However, the cost of thyroid MRI is quite high - not every patient can afford such an examination.
The thyroid gland is an organ that is located under the skin, so it can be examined in other ways. For example, a lot of useful information can be obtained during ultrasound. This procedure allows you to evaluate the size of the body, to detect the appearance of neoplasms. Moreover, ultrasound equipment is available in almost every hospital, and the cost of the procedure is much lower.
It is also worth noting that MRI does not make it possible to find out if the detected tumor is benign, or indicates the development of cancer. The procedure can cause the patient emotional and physical discomfort, as you have to lie still in a confined space.
Thyroid MRI with contrast: features of the technique
In some cases, patients are prescribed a slightly modified procedure. Thyroid MRI with contrast provides more accurate results. Before examination, a special contrast agent is injected intravenously to the patient - as a rule, it is made on the basis of iodine or gadolinium. This tool accumulates in pathologically altered tissues, so they look much darker in the pictures. This allows the doctor to study in more detail the structure and change in the tissues of the thyroid gland.
Nevertheless, the technique has some disadvantages. In particular, the introduction of contrast may be accompanied by unpleasant side effects, including dizziness, headache, a feeling of nausea (sometimes ends with vomiting). Also used for contrasting drugs can cause an allergic reaction, sometimes up to anaphylactic shock. That is why the patient gives blood for analysis before the procedure. Sometimes allergy tests are also performed. It is worth noting that this type of MRI is contraindicated in patients with severe diseases of the liver and kidneys, since it is these organs that are responsible for the disposal and excretion of the remnants of the contrast agent from the body.