Surgical Trends in Ultrasound Applications for the Treatment of Thyroid Nodules, Thyroid Cancer, and Parathyroid Disease

Abstract

Surgeons have pioneered the use of clinician-performed ultrasound (US) as evident from its use in the trauma setting over the last several decades. Thus, surgeons have become accustomed to both the concept of and the conduct of using US as a routine part of patient care. As US technique to evaluate the thyroid has evolved, more and more surgeons have taken advantage of examining the diseased anatomy preoperatively themselves, changing their operative plan in nearly half of patients. The appreciation of the utility of such a cost-effective and noninvasive tool has led to trends in surgical practice to include broader education and use by surgeons, increased use immediately preoperatively and intraoperatively to guide surgical intervention, and use in the traditional clinic setting for uniquely surgical applications which are highlighted in this chapter. US has significantly impacted thyroid and parathyroid surgery, thus becoming a key instrument in perioperative patient care and setting the stage for further developments in its use in the surgical field. While such a tool can be of great value, it must also be used in experienced hands. Thus, formal training and certification exist to ensure healthcare providers are competent in their use of the bedside ultrasound.