Thyroid diseases are a very common problem, from which no one is immune. Of course, in this case, correct and timely diagnosis is extremely important. And often doctors refer patients for thyroid MRI.
Of course, people who are faced with the need to go through a similar procedure are interested in additional information. Do they do thyroid MRI? Does diagnostics require preparation? What diseases can be found? Is the procedure associated with any difficulties? The answers to these questions will be useful to many.
What is research
MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is one of the most accurate diagnostic procedures available today. 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 the hydrogen atom when exposed to a powerful magnetic field. MRI equipment delivers specific information to tissues and cells.combination of electromagnetic waves. Special RF coils register changes in the response of hydrogen atoms. All received data is output to a computer that creates images.
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 "retrosternal goiter". Thanks to the pictures, the doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and determine if there is a possibility of surgical treatment.
- Patients are sent for the procedure, in whom, during palpation, an increase in the size of the thyroid gland or its abnormal location was found.
- To clarify the diagnosis, MRI is performed in the presence of inflammatory processes in the tissues of the thyroid gland.
- Indications include infectious diseases.
- This study is carried out with suspicion of the presence of foreign bodies in the tissues of the organ.
- MRI also helps to determine the presence of a tumor, find out its size and exact location.
- The list of indications includes hormonal disorders, 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, mood swings, as these symptoms can also be directly related to the thyroid gland.
- Indications include suspected autoimmune thyroiditis.
Is preparation required
How to prepare for the procedure for checking an organ such as the thyroid gland? An MRI does not actually require any preparation. There is no need to follow a special diet. However, it is important to tell your doctor about all medications you are taking.
Immediately before the examination, you need to change into loose, comfortable clothes without metal fasteners and buttons. It is important to remove all jewelry, watches and other metal items.
How the procedure works
The technique for performing a thyroid MRI is actually 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 resulting images depends on it.
If we are talking about examining children, patients with mental disorders or severe pain syndrome, then the specialist may decide to conduct anesthesia. The procedure is carried out under constant medical supervision. The doctor can examine the results of the study after 1-2 days.
What does a thyroid MRI show
Onin 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 an inflammatory process, a particular infectious disease;
- presence of a foreign body;
- changing the size of the thyroid gland;
- appearance of neoplasms in the neck.
Thyroid MRI is accurate. However, in some cases additional tests are required. For example, blood tests will help identify a particular infection. If cancer is suspected, special tests are used to check the body for the presence of abnormal cells and other tumor markers.
Contraindications
In many cases, the doctor needs to check how the thyroid gland works. MRI is a fairly informative and safe technique. However, there are a number of contraindications:
- the presence of metal plates, dental crowns, prostheses 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 there is currently no accurate data on the possible negative impact of the operation of the equipment on the fetus);
- inability to stay in a static position for a long time (for example, due to mental disorders);
- claustrophobia;
- the procedure is not performed on patients under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
- MRI is difficult for obese people (ifbody weight over 150 kg).
Disadvantages of the methodology
This diagnostic method is, without a doubt, informative. However, the cost of an MRI of the thyroid gland 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 an ultrasound examination. This procedure allows you to assess the size of the organ, to detect the appearance of neoplasms. Moreover, almost every hospital has ultrasound equipment, and the cost of the procedure is much lower.
It is also worth noting that MRI does not make it possible to find out whether the detected tumor is benign, or indicates the development of cancer. The procedure can cause emotional and physical discomfort to the patient as it requires lying still in a confined space.
MRI of the thyroid gland with contrast: features of the technique
In some cases, patients are prescribed a slightly modified procedure. MRI of the thyroid gland with contrast provides more accurate results. Before the examination, a special contrast agent is administered intravenously to the patient - as a rule, it is made on the basis of iodine or gadolinium. This agent accumulates in pathologically altered tissues, so they look much darker in the pictures. This allows the doctor tostudy in detail the structure and changes in the tissues of the thyroid gland.
However, the technique has some disadvantages. In particular, the administration of contrast may be accompanied by unpleasant side effects, including dizziness, headache, nausea (sometimes ending in vomiting). Also used for contrast agents can cause an allergic reaction, sometimes up to anaphylactic shock. That is why before the procedure, the patient donates blood for analysis. Sometimes allergy tests are also carried out. It should be noted that this type of MRI is contraindicated in patients with severe liver and kidney diseases, since these organs are responsible for the utilization and elimination of residual contrast agent from the body.
