Thyroid Ultrasound
An ultrasound of the thyroid produces a picture of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in front of the neck just below the Adam's apple and is shaped like a butterfly, with two lobes on either side of the neck connected by a narrow band of tissue.
Common Uses of Thyroid Ultrasound
An ultrasound of the thyroid is typically used to help diagnose:
- A lump in the thyroid.
- A thyroid that is not functioning properly.
Because ultrasound provides real-time images, it also can be used to guide procedures such as needle biopsies, in which needles are used to extract sample cells from an abnormal area for laboratory testing.
