Changes in the thyroid gland are common in the population. Thyroid sonography is used both in the diagnosis of diffuse thyroid diseases (e.g. autoimmune thyroiditis) and in the assessment of thyroid nodules. Abnormal thyroid laboratory parameters or clinically palpable changes in the thyroid gland often lead to further sonographic clarification.

In the case of thyroid disorders, a distinction is made between diseases that appear nodular or diffuse on ultrasound. In the case of thyroid nodules, the question arises as to whether this is a benign or malignant change.

Sonography cannot clearly differentiate between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. By using so-called Doppler procedures, the blood flow of thyroid nodules can be assessed. Nodules with a high blood flow are more likely to be malignant, while those with a lower blood flow are more likely to be benign. However, even with the Doppler method alone, it is not possible to differentiate between benign and malignant.

For some time now, thyroid elastography has been available as a further method for assessing a benign or malignant nodule. There are currently two technical methods available: real-time elastography and shear wave elastography. Both examination techniques are available in our ultrasound department. The different value of the two procedures is the subject of current research in our department.

The most common diffuse thyroid diseases are Hashimoto's thyrioditis and Graves' disease.