Women are at higher risk than men for thyroid cancer, and the risk increases with age. Anyone with a history of radiation exposure near the neck or a strong family history of thyroid cancer is also considered at risk. Kent describes the doctors and scientists at Yale Medicine as best in class. For the patient, this means that care is streamlined between the doctor who treats the condition and the doctor who interprets the scans, makes a diagnosis and performs a biopsy.
This provides a better, safer experience. Also, a cytology technician is always in the room during a biopsy, in order to look at the biopsy samples under a microscope and ensure that there is enough information to make a definitive diagnosis.
Skip to Main Content. Print Share Download. Your doctor may also order an ultrasound if they notice any abnormal swelling, pain, or infections so that they can uncover any underlying conditions that might be causing these symptoms. Ultrasounds may also be used if your doctor needs to take a biopsy of your thyroid or surrounding tissues to test for any existing conditions.
Your ultrasound will probably be performed in a hospital. A growing number of outpatient facilities can also perform ultrasounds. Before the test, remove necklaces and other accessories that can block your throat. Your doctor may suggest injecting contrast agents into your bloodstream to improve the quality of the ultrasound images. This is usually done with a quick injection using a needle filled with materials such as Lumason or Levovist, which are made of gas filled with tiny bubbles.
The ultrasound technician places a pillow or a pad under the back of your neck to tilt your head back and to expose your throat. In some cases, you may be able to sit upright during the ultrasound. The technician will then rub gel onto your throat, which helps the ultrasound probe, or transducer, glide over your skin.
The gel may feel a little cold when it is applied, but contact with your skin warms it. The technician will run the transducer back and forth over the area where your thyroid is located. This should not be painful. Communicate with your technician if you experience any discomfort. Images will be visible on a screen, and are used to make sure that the radiologist has a clear picture of your thyroid to evaluate.
Your doctor and a radiologist will examine the images. A thyroid ultrasound is not associated with any risks. Your doctor usually analyzes the results before consulting with you about possible follow-up tests or conditions that may be indicated by the ultrasound.
In some cases, your ultrasound may show images of nodules that may or may not be cancerous or contain microcalcifications, which is often associated with cancer. But according to one study , cancer was found in only 1 of every ultrasound tests, and over half of the people whose results showed thyroid nodules did not have cancer.
Small nodules are most likely not cancerous. Your ultrasound cost depends on your healthcare provider. Some providers may not charge you anything for the procedure. The type of ultrasound you get may affect the cost as well. Newer ultrasound technologies, such as three-dimension 3D ultrasounds or Doppler ultrasounds, may cost more because of the higher level of detail that these ultrasounds can provide.
There is no recovery time needed after a thyroid ultrasound test. If your test is being performed by the healthcare provider managing your treatment, you can talk right then about how the test information will impact your future care. No follow-up may be needed. But further tests or procedures might be necessary, depending on the context.
That requires other tests, for example, a blood test for different types of thyroid hormone or for thyroid stimulating hormone TSH. For diagnosis , the results of a thyroid ultrasound must be considered along with other clinical information and other tests. However, other clinical symptoms and tests can help distinguish the two.
Sometimes, ultrasound alone cannot determine whether a nodule is cancerous. If so, you may need to get a biopsy of the node that can be examined under a microscope. This is often done in conjunction with another thyroid ultrasound. If you do have thyroid cancer, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery or another treatment strategy. Examination of the thyroid via ultrasound is a painless and fairly quick process. If you are concerned about a potential thyroid issue, it may be worth talking with your healthcare provider to see if a thyroid ultrasound might provide some helpful information.
Losing weight with thyroid disease can be a struggle. Our thyroid-friendly meal plan can help. Sign up and get yours free! Blum M. Ultrasonography of the thyroid. Updated April 11, Chaudhary V, Bano S. Thyroid ultrasound. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. Sung JY. Parathyroid ultrasonography: the evolving role of the radiologist. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
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Chin Med J Engl. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol injection protocol to treat solid and mixed thyroid nodules. Front Endocrinol Lausanne. Radiological Society of America. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.
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Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Purpose of Test. Risks and Contraindications. Before the Test. During the Test.
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