Dr. Kepal Patel

And so when you have a patient who has a thyroid nodule, it needs to be appropriately evaluated.

And so when you have a patient who has a thyroid nodule, it needs to be appropriately evaluated.

And so when you have a patient who has a thyroid nodule, it needs to be appropriately evaluated.

Well, the first thing you're going to do is obviously examine the patient, get the appropriate history, ask the appropriate questions. Are they having difficulty swallowing, breathing? Have there any changes in their voice? Because a nodule, depending on where it is and what type of nodule it is, it could be compressing other vital structures in the neck.

Well, the first thing you're going to do is obviously examine the patient, get the appropriate history, ask the appropriate questions. Are they having difficulty swallowing, breathing? Have there any changes in their voice? Because a nodule, depending on where it is and what type of nodule it is, it could be compressing other vital structures in the neck.

Well, the first thing you're going to do is obviously examine the patient, get the appropriate history, ask the appropriate questions. Are they having difficulty swallowing, breathing? Have there any changes in their voice? Because a nodule, depending on where it is and what type of nodule it is, it could be compressing other vital structures in the neck.

The nerve that controls your vocal cords and your voice runs right behind the thyroid gland, so it's very sensitive to any kind of thyroid disease.

The nerve that controls your vocal cords and your voice runs right behind the thyroid gland, so it's very sensitive to any kind of thyroid disease.

The nerve that controls your vocal cords and your voice runs right behind the thyroid gland, so it's very sensitive to any kind of thyroid disease.

Yeah, so it's one thing that we really are worried about. Once you've done the appropriate evaluation, usually it's an ultrasound first thing to look at a thyroid nodule. So you get an ultrasound exam, which is very easy to do. The thyroid is very superficial. You get a good look at the thyroid nodule. And then based on certain findings or characteristics of the nodule, you'll get an idea.

Yeah, so it's one thing that we really are worried about. Once you've done the appropriate evaluation, usually it's an ultrasound first thing to look at a thyroid nodule. So you get an ultrasound exam, which is very easy to do. The thyroid is very superficial. You get a good look at the thyroid nodule. And then based on certain findings or characteristics of the nodule, you'll get an idea.

Yeah, so it's one thing that we really are worried about. Once you've done the appropriate evaluation, usually it's an ultrasound first thing to look at a thyroid nodule. So you get an ultrasound exam, which is very easy to do. The thyroid is very superficial. You get a good look at the thyroid nodule. And then based on certain findings or characteristics of the nodule, you'll get an idea.

That nodule looks like it's benign. We don't need to stick a needle in it. Or that nodule looks kind of concerning. Let's stick a needle in it.

That nodule looks like it's benign. We don't need to stick a needle in it. Or that nodule looks kind of concerning. Let's stick a needle in it.

That nodule looks like it's benign. We don't need to stick a needle in it. Or that nodule looks kind of concerning. Let's stick a needle in it.

And so that's what we use to kind of decide it.

And so that's what we use to kind of decide it.

And so that's what we use to kind of decide it.

Cells. So when we do a needle biopsy, which I do in the office on a regular basis, we put the needle into the nodule so we can see exactly where the needle's going. And we basically suck out a couple of cells, put them on a slide, send them to our pathologists who will take a look at it and tell us what they see.

Cells. So when we do a needle biopsy, which I do in the office on a regular basis, we put the needle into the nodule so we can see exactly where the needle's going. And we basically suck out a couple of cells, put them on a slide, send them to our pathologists who will take a look at it and tell us what they see.