Several decades ago, it was impossible to make an ultrasound of the thyroid gland and the condition of this organ was determined by visual examination of the neck and palpation areas. The development of medicine is swift and now the possibilities for diagnosing are much wider.
Ultrasonic thyroid
Ultrasound is a diagnosis of the thyroid gland, which can save lives for some patients, because with its help you can identify such serious diseases as cysts, goiter, cancer, hypothyroidism , adenoma.
The reason will appeal to the endocrinologist, and to conduct this examination is the presence of such symptoms as:
- weight loss , exhaustion or obesity;
- chilliness and, conversely, sweating;
- fast physical fatigue;
- apathy;
- lethargy, weakness, or drowsiness;
- frequent causeless mood swings;
- swelling in the neck;
- cardiopalmus;
- excessive irritability.
Ultrasound of the thyroid gland also has other indications. For example, if the palpation of the thyroid gland is probed by the formation or the patient's work is related to the harmfulness, such an examination should be done immediately after the appointment of the doctor.
Preparing for ultrasound
Before you look, where to make ultrasound of the thyroid gland, you need to prepare for the procedure. There are no special instructions for the preparation, since the thyroid gland is not associated with the digestive system. There are no restrictions on the intake of certain foods, but during the preparation for ultrasound of the thyroid gland, older people and children should skip meals immediately before the examination. That is, you can safely have breakfast in the morning and make an appointment for diagnostics at lunch time, but you do not need to eat lunch.
Also, if necessary, before an ultrasound examination, the doctor may order a patient to take a blood test for thyroid hormones in order to determine the parameters:
- T3 is free;
- TTG;
- T4 free;
- AT to TG;
- TG;
- AT to TPO.
Those who are at risk, ultrasound scan should be done every six months. Of course, they should not get too carried away, as a frequent examination of such a device will not bring good results. There are ultrasound surgeries in any city, and the cost of this procedure is minimal, so the reasons for not visiting the endocrinologist, if you have manifested alarming symptoms, no!
How is ultrasound performed?
If to you have appointed or nominated inspection, to worry, as there passes or take place US of a thyroid gland, it is not necessary. The thyroid gland is an internal organ, but it is located in a very convenient place, therefore the procedure is safe and extremely accurate. The examination can be carried out both sitting and lying down. With the help of a linear sensor, which is put on the neck in the front, the state of your organ is instantly displayed on the monitor of the device. Usually the picture is black and white.
Changes in the gland are visible on the screen, since in some places the intensity of the color changes. And the nodes will be visible to the doctor as an oval or round formation. During the procedure, their sizes are necessarily measured, the structure and the presence of blood flow in them are evaluated. It is very important for a specialist to see what contours the identified node has.
In some cases, before ultrasound of the thyroid gland is made, ultrasound also determines the condition of the lymph nodes. This is done due to the fact that in cancerous formations most often the first metastases appear on the lymph nodes, and if detected at early stages, the treatment will be effective and the patient has a better chance of a full recovery.