Thyroid ultrasound: Subacute granulomatous (deQuervain's) thyroiditis

Early and resolving phases of deQuervain's thyroiditis demonstrating a markedly hypoechoic, ill-defined density in the posterior of the gland (arrows), resulting in acute enlargement of the gland. As the inflammation resolves, the areas of marked hypoechogenicity disappear and the gland is reduced to its original size. Measurements of the entire gland can be seen to change rapidly with the disease course. (A) Transverse views during the acute/painful phase (3.4 × 2.6 × 3.5 cm), followed by (B) resolution of the ill-defined hypoechoic inflammatory component (1.6 × 1.5 × 3.2 cm). (C) Doppler flow during the acute phase demonstrates very little vascularity in the gland. This distinguishes the condition from the highly vascular Graves' disease.