Ultrasound

Thyroid/Parathyroid

Ultrasound is an excellent method for examining the thyroid and parathyroid glands. The thyroid gland is a U-shaped gland that lies at the base of neck and is partly responsible for regulating the metabolic activity of the body. Overactivity, or hyperthyroidism, may cause weight loss, irritability, nervousness and rapid heart beat. Underactivity, or hypothyroidism, may result in weight gain, hair loss, lethargy and intolerance to cold. Ultrasound is useful in identifying conditions that may be responsible for both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. In addition, ultrasound is extremely useful in identifying and characterizing thyroid nodules which are very common. If a nodule is detected, ultrasound can also enable needle biopsy, a procedure where a thin needle is guided into the nodule so that cells can be removed and submitted for pathologic examination. If a thyroid cancer is detected, ultrasound can aid in determining whether the cancer has spread to adjacent lymph nodes in the neck.

The parathyroid glands are 4 small glands usually located in relation to each lobe of the thyroid gland, two on each side. They are responsible for regulating calcium metabolism in the body. Overactivity of the glands, or hyperparathyroidism, is usually detected when a blood calcium level is elevated. High levels of calcium in the blood may lead to kidney stones, bone abnormalities, and in some cases lethargy and stupor. Usually a single gland is overactive, called a parathyroid adenoma. Occasionally, one or more glands is overactive, a condition called parathyroid hyperplasia. Finding these tiny glands is often difficult because of their small size and the fact that they may lie in areas remote from the thyroid gland, for example, as high as the tongue and as low as the chest. Also, they can simulate thyroid nodules and lymph nodes. The ultrasound exam when coupled with a special CT scan of the neck and chest can help identify these abnormal parathyroid adenomas with a success rate of 95%.