Thyroid And Parathyroid Ultrasound: How It Is Done
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How It Is Done
A thyroid and parathyroid ultrasound is usually done by a radiologist or by an ultrasound technologist. It is done in an ultrasound room in a doctor's office or hospital.
You may be asked to undress above the waist and drape a paper or cloth covering around your shoulders. Remove all jewelry from your head or around your neck.
You will lie on your back on a high table with your neck stretched out and a pillow under your shoulders. Gel will be spread on your neck to improve the passage of the sound waves (they do not pass easily through air). Sometimes a small water-filled bag or gelatin sponge is placed over your throat to help conduct the sound waves. The transducer will be pressed against your neck (or against the water-filled bag or gelatin sponge, if used), then moved back and forth over your neck. A picture of your thyroid gland and the tissue around it can be seen on a video monitor. You may be asked to turn your head away from the side being scanned so the jawbone is out of the way.
A thyroid ultrasound test takes about 30 minutes. You may be asked to wait until the radiologist has reviewed the information. The radiologist may want to do additional ultrasound views of your neck.
| Last updated: | July 26, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC |
| Reviewed By: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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