Utility of MR imaging in postthyroidectomy patients

This paper reports the MR images of 29 patients after partial or total thyroidectomy for thyroid carcinoma evaluated for evidence of tumor recurrence and nodal metastases. Surgical confirmation was obtained in all cases of suspected metastasis or tumor recurrence. MR correctly predicted recurrent carcinoma in six patients, including recurrences in ectopic thyroid tissue. Nodal metastases were correctly identified in all patients where lymph nodes were 1.5 cm or larger in diameter. Lymph nodes as small as 6 mm in diameter were easily separated from adjacent vessels on short TR/short TE images. Concurrent CT examinations were performed in four patients. MR imaging was superior to CT in evaluating masses in the thyroidectomy bed and was as accurate as CT in diagnosing tracheal invasion by recurrent carcinoma in one patient