Editing Thyroid (section)

====Imaging====
Ultrasound of the thyroid may be used to reveal whether structures are solid or filled with fluid, helping to differentiate between nodules and goitres and cysts. It may also help differentiate between malignant and benign lesions.{{sfn|Greenspan's|2011|p=189}} 

When further imaging is required, a radiolabelled [[iodine-123]] or [[technetium-99]] uptake scan may take place. This can determine the size and shape of lesions, reveal whether nodules or goitres are metabolically active, and reveal and monitor sites of thyroid disease or cancer deposits [[metastases|outside the thyroid]].{{sfn|Greenspan's|2011|p=188-9}}

A [[fine needle aspiration]] of a sample of thyroid tissue may be taken in order to evaluate a lesion seen on ultrasound which is then sent for [[histopathology]] and [[cytology]].{{sfn|Greenspan's|2011|p=190}}

[[Computed tomography of the thyroid]] plays an important role in the evaluation of thyroid cancer.<ref name=Saeedan2016>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bin Saeedan M, Aljohani IM, Khushaim AO, Bukhari SQ, Elnaas ST | title = Thyroid computed tomography imaging: pictorial review of variable pathologies | journal = Insights into Imaging | volume = 7 | issue = 4 | pages = 601–17 | date = August 2016 | pmid = 27271508 | pmc = 4956631 | doi = 10.1007/s13244-016-0506-5 }} [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License]</ref> CT scans often [[Incidental imaging finding|incidentally find]] thyroid abnormalities, and thereby practically becomes the first investigation modality.<ref name=Saeedan2016/>