Recently, a netizen said “a Korean drama saved her life”, because watching “oh my Venus”, she found that she was very similar to the heroine of the drama – Kang Dang, such as grumpy and failed to lose weight several times. The heroine’s experience of getting checked for low thyroid by her coach and successfully regaining her figure through medication and diet and exercise management reminded her to go to the hospital to check her thyroid, which resulted in the detection of thyroid nodules, which were fortunately treated in time. Thyroid nodules is a general name that can include a variety of thyroid disorders. What are the routine tests if you go to the hospital to have your thyroid checked? Ultrasonography Ultrasonography helps to identify the nature of the nodule and allows for localization, puncture, treatment and follow-up of thyroid nodules. The ultrasound report usually includes the shape, size, number of nodules, the state of nodule margins, internal echogenic features, blood flow status and the condition of lymph nodes in the neck. Ultrasound is currently a sensitive test for evaluating thyroid nodules, and is required for almost all patients suspected of having thyroid nodules or who have existing thyroid nodules. Measurement of thyroid function and autoantibodies Measurement of thyroid function and autoantibodies is not only valuable in the evaluation of thyroid nodules, but can also be used to diagnose Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. In addition, measurement of calcitonin is important in the diagnosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and can be used before surgery for nodular goiter and in patients with a family history of MTC or MEN 2. Thyroid nuclide imaging Thyroid nuclide imaging is an imaging test that can evaluate the functional status of nodules. However, it is not necessary for the diagnosis of most thyroid nodules. In patients with low TSH levels or multinodular goiters, nuclide imaging can detect functional nodules or high-functioning adenomas. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules Patients with suspected malignancy on ultrasound of the thyroid gland can undergo ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules to clarify the nature and cell type of the nodules and to maximize the detection of patients with thyroid cancer for timely treatment. At the same time, it can prevent many patients with benign nodules from undergoing unnecessary surgery. For patients with indeterminate cytological findings of thyroid nodules, ultrasound-guided coarse needle aspiration biopsy can be used to take histological specimens if necessary to provide more diagnostic information. Doctor’s tip: Thyroid nodules are a common clinical condition, and doctors will arrange the appropriate tests according to the patient’s actual condition. Among them, thyroid ultrasonography is relatively more widely used in routine checkups, and many tiny (<1cm in diameter) thyroid nodules can be detected. Most of these nodules are benign and usually do not require special treatment, and regular follow-up is sufficient. For nodules with suspicious malignant features on ultrasound, it is important to actively cooperate with the doctor to perform other targeted tests to clarify the diagnosis and take appropriate treatment measures in a timely manner.