Thyroid Ultrasound

A thyroid ultrasound is a painless and fairly routine imaging test used to evaluate a growth that is detected on one of the thyroid glands in your neck. The test employs sound wave technology to produce an image of the thyroid gland on a computer screen and help in the determination of whether it is abnormally enlarged (as in a goiter) or if it has a fluid-filled cyst or solid nodule on it. While most such growths are not cancerous, they can still cause the gland to overproduce hormones and may need to be removed. A thyroid ultrasound is performed like most other external ultrasounds – that is, with a handheld transducer device that is glided over the skin above the organ being examined. The procedure takes approximately 10 minutes.