Did you have an ultrasound of your thyroid when the doctor diagnosed your thyroid condition? Did he use ultrasound to follow your nodule, goiter, or cancer? If not read this!

Ultrasound is drastically underutilized by endocrinologists. Part is due to training deficiency at medical school endocrine departments. Also a lack of understanding of it's use in clinical situations.

Ultrasound should be integrated into the thyroid evaluation. It should be done by your thyroidologist, to reach it's full potential. The cardiologist uses his stethoscope on every patient. Ultrasound should be used on almost every thyroid patient.

The physician should do the ultrasound. Only he can appreciate the subtleties of the exam, and that it is are similar to listening to the heart for murmurs. The cardiologist does not ask the nurse to auscultate to the heart, and describe the pathology!

Ultrasound is an extension of the thyroid doctor's fingers, like the stethoscope is an extension of the cardiologist's ears.

What can your doctor learn by referring you to a thyroidologist who is expert in the art of looking for thyroid pathology by ultrasound.

Thyroidologist Ultrasound can:

1. Define the shape, size, and extent of a palpable nodule
2. It can clarify the findings noted on physical exam.
   Is it a nodule?
   Is it on the thyroid ?
3. Detect a nodule he does not feel.
4. Help him find a nodule he does not feel. When he sees it on ultrasound. He may re-exam the area and now feel the nodule.
5. Used to monitor treatment. It can be used to follow the size of the goiter and nodules during treatment.
6. Can help with difficult nodules to do Aspiration biopsy.
7. Can be a screening tool for patient at high risk for thyroid cancer.
8. Can identify early recurrence of thyroid cancers.

Ask the Thyroid doctor if he does his own ultrasound when you call for your initial consultation.

Yours truly, and goodbye,

Dr. Richard Guttler
Thyroidologist