[Sonography of the thyroid gland with high-resolution real-time equipment]

The results of sonography of thyroid glands in 131 patients were compared with the findings on palpation and from scintigrams. High resolution sonography is the most accurate method of examination for demonstrating changes in the thyroid. In 40% cases sonography demonstrated lesions additional to the single abnormality found clinically. In 10% cases a suspected thyroid abnormality on palpation proved to be due to extra thyroid disease. Evaluation of the number, size and localisation of space-occupying lesions by means of sonography is superior to all other kinds of investigation. It is, however, not possible to determine whether a lesion is benign. An attempt has been made to define the usefulness of thyroid sonography and its place during routine diagnosis.