Providing Thyroid Ultrasound in Colorado & Beyond
Our specialized Denver radiologists use thyroid ultrasound to generate images of the thyroid gland to evaluate its health. A thyroid ultrasound will show any masses or subtle changes in the thyroid gland that could be associated with benign (non-cancerous) versus malignant (cancerous) nodules. Most nodules of the thyroid are benign.
The Importance of Thyroid Health
The thyroid is part of the endocrine system that affects the body's metabolism and growth. It is a small butterfly-shaped gland that lies in front of the trachea and is responsible for producing hormones to make many cells in your body function correctly. Its proper or improper function can affect our energy level, ability to sleep, muscle and digestive process, brain function, mood, ability to maintain a healthy heart rate, and optimal bone density.
Normal thyroid gland function is significant for women's health as its function or dysfunction may cause problems with fertility and pregnancy. A thyroid ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images and investigate potential issues. Your doctor may order a thyroid ultrasound if they notice physiologic changes, such as thyroid enlargement, redness of the neck, or growth palpated on examination. If you experience swelling or difficulty swallowing, that may also indicate the need for a thyroid ultrasound.
What Can Cause Changes in the Thyroid?
Changes in the thyroid that may need to be examined with ultrasound include:
Nodules
Goiter
Enlargement
Swelling or inflammation
Neck redness
A thyroid goiter is when the thyroid enlarges all over. A goiter may occur because of iodine deficiency related to inadequate or poor nutrition. This condition is uncommon in developed countries but still occurs in the non-coastal United States because the soil lacks iodine, resulting in the food grown there to lack iodine. Iodine is critical for the thyroid gland to function properly. When the gland enlarges because of multiple nodules, this condition is called Multinodular Goiter. We can use medical diagnostic imaging to determine if the reason for the thyroid enlargement is because of many nodules or diffuse inflammation.
Autoimmune conditions such as Graves disease or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis can cause the thyroid gland to enlarge. As injury atrophies the gland over time, it becomes smaller. If the gland is actively inflamed, followed by an abrupt change in function, swelling, or neck redness, blood tests may show a sudden overproduction of hormones or antibodies to the gland or its receptors. This condition is known as toxic thyroiditis, which can be dangerous if essential functions such as heart rate or temperature are involved.
Sometimes a solitary thyroid nodule develops and affects only one area of the thyroid. This process usually requires an ultrasound of the thyroid gland.
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Thyroid function may cause pain in the breast. Pregnancy-related issues may result from autoimmune thyroid disorders such as Graves Disease or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Only specialists who work within this comprehensive field will appreciate one organ system's relationship to another. We specialize in all these processes and work closely with other specialists such as endocrinologists or gynecologists in a multi-disciplinary fashion.
What to Expect During a Thyroid Ultrasound
Ultrasound of the thyroid uses a small hand-held transducer or wand that emits sound waves produced by special crystals sent to and from the transducer to the thyroid gland. Sound waves reflected back to the crystals in the transducer are displayed as X-ray images of the gland for a specialized radiologist to interpret. This process is also sometimes referred to as a sonogram of the thyroid.
Unlike almost all other radiology centers, a radiologist at The Women's Imaging Center directly oversees the procedure and personally examines you if there is a thyroid abnormality or concern. A thyroid ultrasound will include:
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Frequently Asked Questions About Thyroid Ultrasound
A doctor may order a thyroid ultrasound to evaluate any physical changes of the thyroid gland such as an enlargement or difficulty swallowing.
A thyroid ultrasound will show any masses or subtle changes in the thyroid gland that could be associated with benign (non-cancerous) versus malignant (cancerous) nodules. Most nodules of the thyroid are benign.
Depending on the size, shape, and characteristics of the nodule, a biopsy might be indicated called a Fine Needle Aspiration. Most nodules will require a follow-up ultrasound within a short interval versus a biopsy.
Under ultrasound guidance, a very small needle is introduced into the thyroid gland after numbing the area. It feels like a light pressure for a few minutes while obtaining the cells. The sample is then interpreted by the pathologist.
The blood test will interpret the function of the thyroid gland while the Ultrasound evaluates the anatomy.
The function of the thyroid can be assessed by measuring the specific hormones secreted by the thyroid gland called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) or by measuring the feedback signal from the pituitary gland (the brain of the thyroid), called Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH).
Iodine is a necessary building block for the thyroid. Another substance produced by the gland called Calcitonin signals the correct amount of calcium in the blood and affects bone metabolism.
Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland doesn't make enough hormones. Many people with hypothyroidism may say, "I just can't lose weight even though I'm hardly eating anything," "I feel cold all the time," or "my hair is falling out, and my skin feels dry all the time." Unfortunately, diagnosing hypothyroidism is not as easy as just performing blood work because the body does everything possible to keep the hormones at a specific normal range in the bloodstream so that other organs can function properly. Therefore, thyroid function blood tests don't tell the whole story.
Additionally, many changes in thyroid function occur in our lives when other hormones are also changing, such as during pregnancy or menopause. Both women and men experience hormonal changes at about age 50. In women, we refer to this time as perimenopause, and in men, we refer to this time as "mano-pause." Many other hormonal changes also occur at this time so these changes may mask the complaints of fatigue or low libido from thyroid dysfunction.
Some people suffer from an overly active thyroid which produces too much hormone and affects the downstream organs. This condition is called hyperthyroidism. People affected by excess thyroid hormone production may present with cardiac palpitations, flushing, memory loss or mood disturbances, unexplained weight loss, difficulty regulating body temperature, and changes in vision or muscles of the eyes.
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