An ultrasound of the thyroid produces a picture of the thyroid gland. This gland is located in the 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.
Emerson Hospital’s expert sonographers perform thyroid ultrasound exams at the main Emerson campus in Concord and at Emerson’s Westford Health Center.
Why a thyroid ultrasound is performed
Your doctor may order a thyroid ultrasound if you have had a thyroid function test that is abnormal, or if your doctor feels a growth on your thyroid while examining your neck. An ultrasound can also check an underactive or overactive thyroid gland.
A thyroid ultrasound is used to examine the thyroid for abnormalities, including:
What a thyroid ultrasound exam involves
You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing with a low neckline for your ultrasound exam, or you may be asked to wear a gown during the procedure. You should remove any jewelry in the area to be examined.
During the exam, a specially trained Emerson sonographer will apply gel to your neck area (this eliminates any air pockets between your skin and the device), then press a small hand-held transducer against your skin and move it over the area being examined.
The transducer sends information to a computer, which produces detailed images based on the patterns created by the sound waves.
An ultrasound exam is generally a painless procedure, and a typical exam takes from 30 minutes to an hour. You are free to resume all normal activities after your test.
To obtain test results
By law, this requires a signed medical records release form and photo identification. To make a request, please call:
To Schedule an appointment
To schedule an appointment for an ultrasound, please call
978-287-3003.
