Thyroid Ultrasound in Farmington Hills
A thyroid ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of your thyroid gland located in your neck. This procedure is commonly used to evaluate thyroid nodules and lumps found around your thyroid during physical examination.
Doctors at Associated Endocrinologists use thyroid ultrasounds to help diagnose and treat the conditions of their thyroid patients. Our Endocrinologists, Dr. Lowell Schmeltz and Dr. Howard Blank, are board certified and completed medical school and fellowships at schools throughout Michigan, including Wayne State University. We provide compassionate care and offer sound medical advice to all our patients.
Why Get a Thyroid Ultrasound?
You may need a thyroid ultrasound if you’re having problems with your thyroid or if your doctor identifies abnormalities. Thyroid ultrasounds can look for cysts, nodules, and tumors along your thyroid gland.
Your doctor may want to perform an ultrasound if you’re experiencing any pain or swelling in and around your thyroid and if you’re having trouble speaking or swallowing due to an enlarged thyroid or lump.
How to Prepare for Your Ultrasound
We perform quick and easy thyroid ultrasounds at our state-of-the-art Farmington Hills practice.
You don’t have to change your normal routine before undergoing a thyroid ultrasound. You can eat and drink regularly right up to the time of your ultrasound.
Think ahead when choosing the outfit you’ll wear to your ultrasound. Avoid tops with high necklines and turtlenecks because your doctor will need to access your neck area. You will also need to remove jewelry and other accessories from your neck before the procedure.
You may want to wear a lower cut shirt and comfortable pants and shoes since you will be lying down during your ultrasound.
What is the Procedure Like?
An ultrasound technician will run the procedure. During the ultrasound, your doctor will ask you to lie back on an exam table with a pillow to support your head and neck. They’ll place a gel on your neck for easier movement of the ultrasound wand and to facilitate better transference of the sound waves for clearer images. The gel may feel cool at first but warms up with your body heat.
The transducer wand emits sound waves that bounce off your thyroid, creating images of your thyroid gland that appear on a screen. You won’t hear the sound waves or feel any pain during the procedure.
Your doctor will review the images and explain the results to you. A thyroid ultrasound is a quick procedure, lasting about 10 minutes. You won’t feel any side effects.
Schedule Your Thyroid Ultrasound in Farmington Hills Today
If you have concerns about your thyroid health, set up an appointment with Associated Endocrinologist today. Our team of doctors provides endocrinology services to patients throughout Southeast Michigan, including Farmington Hills. We’ll examine your thyroid and determine if you need a thyroid ultrasound.