Jeanette Carlqvist: Effects of contrast media on renal and thyroid function – and the impact of thyroid nodules
Iodine contrast media are commonly used in radiological examinations. Jeanette Carlqvist has studied how these agents affect kidney and thyroid function. Her findings may influence how risk factors are managed before contrast-enhanced imaging.
JEANETTE CARLQVIST
Dissertation defense: 11 April 2025 (click for details)
Doctoral thesis: Effects of contrast media on renaI and thyroid function - and the impact of thyroid nodules
Research area: Radiology and Imaging
Sahlgrenska Academy, The Institute of Clinical Sciences
Iodine contrast media have long been an essential tool in radiological diagnostics. However, previous studies on their effects on the kidneys and thyroid have often been limited to retrospective observational studies. As part of the large SCAPIS study, Jeanette Carlqvist examined these effects in a randomly selected group of adults aged 50 to 65.
She also evaluated a method for selecting thyroid nodules for further investigation using fine-needle aspiration. Thyroid nodules are common, but only a small proportion are malignant. Therefore, it is important to determine which nodules require further examination.
Impact on kidneys and thyroid
Jeanette Carlqvist’s dissertation shows that iodine contrast media are safe for individuals with normal to moderately impaired kidney function. There were no clinically significant changes in kidney function following contrast media exposure.
“We noted a slight effect on thyroid function, but it was not associated with any clear clinical symptoms. However, we found that individuals with autoimmune conditions were more likely to develop subclinical hypothyroidism,” says Jeanette Carlqvist, neuroradiologist at Neurointervention at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and doctoral student at the Institute of Clinical Sciences.
The findings support national guidelines that outline when precautionary measures should be taken before contrast-enhanced imaging.
Assessing thyroid nodules
Another part of the study focused on ultrasound screening of the thyroid, using the European risk stratification system EU-TIRADS to select nodules for further examination.
“We found that when screening a large cohort with thyroid ultrasound, cancer prevalence was very low when EU-TIRADS was used to determine which nodules should be further examined. Additionally, our randomized controlled study showed that the system was a safe method for selecting nodules for fine-needle aspiration (FNA) compared to a more general approach, where all nodules larger than one centimeter undergo FNA,” Jeanette Carlqvist says.
The findings may help guide recommendations on how to manage incidental thyroid nodules discovered during other examinations.
Collaboration and challenges
What has been the most rewarding and challenging aspect of the doctoral project?
“It has been incredibly rewarding and valuable to be involved from the very beginning—designing studies and working through all the practical and scientific considerations needed to make them possible. At the same time, I have realized that perfection of study methods is hard to achieve. It has also been great fun to collaborate with many different specialties.”
Text: Jakob Lundberg