Thyroid Gland Disorders

Thyroid nodules are very common and the majority of them are nothing to worry about. We can use ultrasound to take a closer look at your thyroid gland, including the lymph nodes, blood vessels and other structures in the neck in all three dimensions. This helps to determine if you need further evaluation with a biopsy or if we can continue to watch with ultrasounds from time to time to make sure nothing changes.

We work closely with our surgeons, radiation oncologists and pathologists at EVMS to determine the best treatment strategy for you.

Our doctors perform real-time neck ultrasounds using a GE Lunar X8 machine for evaluation of the thyroid gland. This means you'll find out results before you leave the office. We also perform biopsies of thyroid nodules in the clinic if necessary, using the newest molecular testing to ensure the most accurate result.

We also offer thyroid nodule biopsies with molecular testing, which determines if a nodule or lymph node is cancerous. We use a very small needle to take cells out of the nodule and send it off to be looked at under a microscope. Within 1-2 weeks we have the results back and can discuss what the next best steps are with you, whether surgery or continuing to watch. If it does turn out to be concerning for cancer, further testing can identify certain mutations in the cells that will help us to determine the best treatment for you long term.