Why would an endocrinologist order an ultrasound?
A thyroid ultrasound may be ordered if a thyroid function test is abnormal or if you doctor feels a growth on your thyroid while examining your neck. An ultrasound can also check an underactive or overactive thyroid gland. You may receive a thyroid ultrasound as part of an overall physical exam.
Can an endocrinologist do an ultrasound?
More recently in some centres, trained endocrinologists are increasingly performing routine diagnostic ultrasonography in the management of thyroid disease, often in the context of ‘one stop’ thyroid nodules clinics.
What are they looking for when they ultrasound Your thyroid?
Thyroid ultrasound is a sound wave picture of the thyroid gland taken by a hand-held instrument and translated to a 2-dimensional picture on a monitor. It is used in diagnosis of tumors, cysts or goiters of the thyroid, and is a painless, no-risk procedure.
What does an endocrinologist do for thyroid?
Thyroidologists are endocrinologists who specifically study, diagnose, manage and treat the thyroid gland.
When do you need a thyroid ultrasound?
However, thyroid ultrasounds aren’t right for everyone. You will usually only need one if you’re experiencing symptoms linked to your thyroid gland, your doctor has felt a lump in your thyroid, or other tests (such as blood tests) have identified a thyroid problem.
What does red mean on thyroid ultrasound?
Red and blue denote the color doppler flow imaging of CDFI. Red is the direction of blood flow toward the probe, and blue is the direction of blood flow away from the probe. Color depth represents the speed of blood flow.
How do I prepare for a thyroid ultrasound?
Before your thyroid ultrasound, you may eat normally. No special preparation is required. During your ultrasound, pictures of your thyroid will appear on a video screen and several images and measurements will be recorded. A thyroid ultrasound takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
Are thyroid nodules serious?
Thyroid nodules are solid or fluid-filled lumps that form within your thyroid, a small gland located at the base of your neck, just above your breastbone. Most thyroid nodules aren’t serious and don’t cause symptoms. Only a small percentage of thyroid nodules are cancerous.
What does Hashimoto’s look like on ultrasound?
In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, diffuse vascularity can be seen. Also, pseudo nodules can be seen, which are not real thyroid nodules. Pseudo nodules are an ultrasound artifact. The inflammation of Hashimotos’ thyroiditis makes the thyroid look lumpy bumpy on ultrasound.
What does a suspicious thyroid nodule look like?
For example, nodules that do not have smooth borders or have little bright white spots (micro-calcifications) on the ultrasound would make your doctor suspicious that there is a thyroid cancer present. If the nodule appears suspicious on ultrasound and is larger than 1cm, the next step is to do a thyroid biopsy.
What questions should I ask my endocrinologist for thyroid?
Doctor Discussion Guide: 15 Questions to Ask About Hypothyroidism
- What caused my hypothyroidism?
- What treatment do I need?
- How will you figure out my dose?
- How often will I need to take the medicine?
- How do I take thyroid hormone?
- What if I miss a dose?
- Can I switch to another thyroid drug?