Characteristics of thyroid ultrasound pictures in children with nodular thyroid changes effected by radionuclides.

97 children with thyroid nodules found through screening programs in regions of White Russia (Belarus) affected by fallout from the Chernobyl disaster underwent thyroid ultrasound examination by one team at a central reference hospital. 46 of these children were operated on. 31 of these had thyroid carcinoma (30 papillary carcinoma, 1 follicular carcinoma), 9 adenoma, 3 nodular goitre, 2 thyroiditis and one colloid goitre. Sex distribution was equal in the carcinoma group while in all other groups females prevailed. In younger age groups (3-6 and 7-10 years) carcinomas were found more often than adenomas and cysts. A carcinoma was present most likely if there were a single nodule with a volume of more than 1.5 cm3, inhomogeneous echo structure, unclear, hypoechogenic margins, and enlarged regional lymph nodes.