Strategies needed to reduce number of unnecessary thyroid ultrasounds

Key takeaways:

At four Mayo Clinic health system sites, 7.6% of thyroid ultrasounds were considered inappropriate.

Adults with a history of thyroid disease were more likely to have an inappropriate ultrasound ordered.

Perspectives from Megan R. Haymart, MD Trevor E. Angell, MD

During a 5-year period, 7.6% of thyroid ultrasounds that took place in a large U.S. health system were not needed, and interventions may help reduce the number of inappropriate ultrasounds in some patient groups, researchers reported.

Juan P. Brito

“Thyroid ultrasound is a highly sensitive imaging test, capable of detecting very small nodules — many of which are benign or indolent,” Juan P. Brito, MD, MS, director of the care and AI lab in the division of endocrinology, diabetes, metabolism and nutrition