Thyroid Ultrasound and Ultrasound-guided FNA Biopsy

Ultrasound has undergone numerous advances in technology such as grey-scale imaging, real-time sonography, high resolution 7.5-10 MHz transducers, and colour-flow Doppler. This makes ultrasound able to provide very accurate images of the thyroid gland quickly, inexpensively, and safely. However, in spite of these advances, ultrasound remains drastically underutilized by endocrinologists. In part, this is due to a lack of understanding of the ways in which ultrasound can aid in the diagnosis of various thyroid conditions and to a lack of experience in the ultrasound technique by the clinician. This guide presents a hands-on approach to using ultrasound in the clinical evaluation and management of thyroid disease. It is written specifically for the clinician and discusses the subtleties one needs to be aware of in using this technique. Particular attention is paid to using ultrasound in conjunction with FNA biopsy. Technology such as three-dimensional ultrasound, colour-flow Doppler, and percutaneous injection of cysts and nodules are discussed and demonstrated.