[Sonography of the thyroid gland in surgery]

50 patients were sonographically examined by the surgeon prior to thyroidectomy. The sonographic findings were then compared with the intra-operative situation and with the goitre removed. Complete agreement was recorded from 80 per cent of the cases. Sonography was found to be superior to traditional thyroid diagnosis for its higher accuracy in indicating the positions of adenomas, cysts, and calcareous nodules as well as the relationship between goitre and vessels of the neck.