Endocrinology (2024)

A thin needle is inserted into the area of interest (usually a thyroid nodule) and cells are removed, spread on a slide, and evaluated by a cytopathologist (someone who diagnoses diseases on a cellular level). This process is repeated around three to six times. It is often performed under ultrasound guidance. The image shown will let doctors know what the diagnosis is.

An ultrasound uses sound waves to detect masses or fluid in soft tissues. It is especially useful in evaluating thyroid nodules, lymph nodes in the neck, and can identify enlarged parathyroid glands.

An ultrasound probe is inserted into the stomach and duodenum by a gastroenterologist to see the pancreas and surrounding structures. This ultrasound is very useful to localize small pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, especially insulinomas (a rare, insulin producing tumor of the pancreas).

CT is cross sectional imaging using x-rays. It generates highly detailed images of the neck, chest, and abdomen. It is sometimes used to evaluate if a goiter extends into the chest, or to look for a parathyroid gland that is not in its usual location. In the abdomen, it is very useful for evaluating pancreas, liver, and adrenal masses. We recommend that a non-contrast CT scan be done if there is any suspicion of thyroid cancer in most cases.

This is a new test that is useful for imaging of abnormal parathyroid glands, especially in cases of failed parathyroid surgery. It utilizes the special dye uptake and washout of the parathyroid gland to distinguish it from other similar structures in the neck such as lymph nodes.

This test uses a magnetic field to generate cross sectional images of the body. It is particularly good at distinguishing different types of soft tissue masses. It can also be used to identify parathyroid glands, and to better characterize adrenal and liver masses.

PET scanning can image the increased metabolism of glucose found in most cancers. It is useful in finding otherwise undetected areas of cancer growth. It is also used to image thyroid cancers that do not take up radioactive iodine.

Thyroid cells are designed to take up iodine, and therefore a whole body scan following the administration of radioactively labelled iodine is a very sensitive test for the detection of normal and most cancerous thyroid cells both in the neck and throughout the rest of the body. It also gives information on the function of those thyroid cells. I123or I131are the isotopes used in this test.

Octreotide is a synthetic form of somatostatin, a hormone that binds to the somatostatin receptors on many neuroendocrine tumors. It is used to image carcinoid tumors and pancreatic NETs, and to evaluate if the tumors will bind to octreotide for potential treatment with the drug.

This radioactive iodine compound is taken up by cells that synthesize catacholamines. It is used to image pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas. It is particularly useful in detecting metastatic and bilateral disease. With advances in CT and PET imaging, its use is decreasing.

Venous sampling is an invasive technique done by interventional radiology where a catheter is inserted into a vein to withdraw blood samples for analysis of hormone levels from specific locations. The purpose of the test is to localize the source of abnormal hormone secretion. It is used sometimes prior to reoperative parathyroid surgery, in hyperaldosteronism, and in insulinomas or gastrinomas.