The thyroid ultrasound should not be used for screening, or to examine a wide population, when no specific symptoms present themselves. There is a real possibility of finding benign nodules – or ones that wouldn’t cause any trouble – and assuming that they might be malignant and dangerous. Sometimes this even results in unnecessary surgery.

Advice from Altroconsumo

- If you have noticed the appearance of a swelling on the neck, or if you have a frequent cough, hoarseness and difficulty swallowing, immediately seek the advice of a physician.
- Keep in mind that the place where you live and your dietary habits influence how your thyroid functions: talk about it with your doctor.
- When you go to the doctor, bring a list of medications that you are taking: some medications taken for heart problems (amiodarone and propranolol), psychiatric problems (lithium, phenytoin), anti-viral therapy (interferon), oestrogen, and some antibiotics (rifampicin) can have a direct effect on the proper functioning of the thyroid or may interfere with the strength of thyroid hormones.
- Tell your doctor about any heart or blood pressure problems: some of these conditions can be associated with thyroid dysfunction.
- When the thyroid ultrasound shows a benign nodule, the specialist suggests that you keep an eye on it: Get a clear explanation of what this means and how often the situation needs to be checked.

In collaboration with

AME - Italian Association of Medical Endocrinologists