What are reasons for thyroid ultrasound scan?

LaBigGirl · 02-07-2009, 03:48 PM

I'm hypo for years now and never had an ultrasound scan of the thyroid gland. Wondering what the reasons are that the dr. would do one. I know some of you have nodules, which I understand to be spots of tough thyroid tissue that are part of the gland. During a scan are they checking to see if things are all normal--not cancer? Or is there other information that they get from a scan?

alaskaflygirl · 02-08-2009, 03:19 PM

In my ten years of dealing with thyroid issues (including about eight thyroid ultrasounds), it seems that doctors have two things they're looking for: unusual tissue patterns (cysts, or nodules that might indicate cancer), or changes to the shape/size of the thyroid.

A gland that is enlarged (not necessarily considered a "goiter") may produce too much hormone, whereas one that appears shrunken (atrophied) may be the culprit behind someone whose blood tests suggest hypothyroidism.

Just passing along what I've been told by the docs over the years. :-) Good luck with your procedure!

LaBigGirl · 02-08-2009, 04:18 PM

Thanks for the response, Alaska. I don't have a scan scheduled, but wondered if I'd ever need one. Because I don't have enlargement, it doesn't sound like I need a scan. But I have had some changes in my dosage (had to be increased last month) and symptoms in the throat area, like recurring soreness on one side, ear pain, salivary/throat gland tenderness, etc. I'll talk to the dr. next week when I go in.