[The characteristics of two-dimensional and color Doppler ultrasonography in Graves' disease].

Color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) was performed in 24 patients with Graves' disease, and the results were compared with those from 8 patients with Hashimoto's disease, 6 patients with simple diffuse goiter and 15 normal volunteers. All cases were confirmed by clinical, laboratory tests or by pathology. The CDFI findings of the cases with Graves' disease showed diffuse or localized hypoechoes within the glands and rich flow signals in the hypoechoes, and acceleration of flow velocity and decrease of resistance in the superior thyroid arteries (STA) and arteries within the glands. These appearances were characteristic as compared with the controls. The rate of flow in STA of Graves' disease cases was 8 to 10 times higher than that in the normal volunteers. This study demonstrated that CDFI is convenient, time saving, inexpensive and noninvasive as compared with isotope scan and some other laboratory tests, and can be widely used in the diagnosis of Graves' disease. The pathologic basis of Graves' disease on ultrasonography and its differential diagnosis are discussed.