Update on diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism: ultrasonography and functional imaging.

Ultrasonography and radionuclide imaging using [99mTc]Pertechnetate or radioactive iodine isotopes are essential tools used during the diagnostic workup of hyperthyroidism with or without structural alterations of the thyroid. Color duplex sonography and ultrasound elastography may add important information to find the cause of the hormone excess. During the last few years, hybrid imaging using SPECT/-(CT) or PET-based methods, such as [124]Iodine-PET/CT or [124]Iodine-PET/ultrasound have been increasingly used, playing a role in the context of localizing ectopic thyroid tissue or in multinodular goiter. Recently, promising data has been published on the use of [99mTc]MIBI imaging in amiodarone induced hyperthyroidism.