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Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create pictures of body structures. To create an image of the thyroid, the ultrasound transducer is placed on your lower neck. The way a thyroid nodule looks on an ultrasound image helps your provider determine if it's likely to be cancer.
Ultrasound is the first and most critical imaging test for thyroid cancer and thyroid problems. This test exposes the patient to no radiation. A thorough ultrasound looking at the thyroid and the entire neck is paramount to ensure thyroid cancer is not missed.
On average, 1 case of thyroid cancer was found for every 111 ultrasound exams performed. Thyroid nodules were found in 97% of patients with thyroid cancer and in 56% of without thyroid cancer. Microcalcifications were found in 38% of cancerous nodules and only in 5% of benign, non-cancerous nodules.
Ultrasound uses sound waves and their echoes to create images of parts of your body. You are not exposed to radiation during this test. Ultrasound can help determine if a thyroid nodule is solid or filled with fluid. (Solid nodules are more likely to be cancer.)
Ultrasound is easy to perform, widely available, does not involve ionizing radiation and is readily combined with fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). It is therefore an ideal investigation of choice for evaluating thyroid nodules.
Combined clinical, thyroid ultrasound and cytological features help to predict thyroid malignancy in follicular and Hürthle cell thyroid lesions: results from a series of 505 consecutive patients. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 66:13–20 [ DOI ] [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
Thyroid cancer is usually detected when: (I) patients feel a lump in the neck; (II) a routine clinical exam is performed; (III) an incidental thyroid nodule is identified on diagnostic imaging (e.g., CT neck or chest, carotid ultrasound, PET scan acquired for non-thyroid pathology).
Thyroid ultrasound is used to evaluate index nodule size, location, characteristics, and the number and presence of additional thyroid nodules (e.g., contralateral lobe), and for the detection of suspicious-appearing lymph nodes. Nodule size has been shown to not be predictive of malignancy.
Usually, doctors do an ultrasound exam of the thyroid when you or they notice a lump or swelling in your neck. Thyroid nodules are also often noticed on imaging tests of your neck (such as CT scan) done for another reason. Doctors may also do blood tests to check your thyroid hormone levels.
Ultrasound. An ultrasound helps your doctor learn more about the thyroid nodule(s). It uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of your thyroid.