Ultrasound of the thyroid produces pictures of the thyroid gland and the adjacent structures in the neck. The thyroid gland is located in front of the neck just above the collar bones and it’s shaped like a butterfly, with one lobe on either side of the neck connected by a narrow band of tissue. It is one of nine endocrine glands located throughout the body that make and send hormones into the bloodstream.
Why should you have a thyroid ultrasound.
- it determines if a lump in the neck is arising from the thyroid or an adjacent structure
- analyzes the appearance of thyroid nodules and determines if they are the more common benign nodule or if the nodule has features that require a biopsy.
- looks for additional nodules in patients with one or more nodules felt on physical exam
- to see if a previously found thyroid nodule has substantially grown over time
Indications for a Thyroid Ultrasound
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
- Neck Mass
- Abnormal Thyroid Function Test
- Difficulty Swallowing
- Acute Thyroiditis
- Thyroid Mass
What Ultrasound Can Determine
- Thyroid Cancer
- Thyroid Goiter
- Trachea Obstruction
- Parathyroid Mass
- Enlarged Lymph Nodes