Thyroid ultrasound - sonographer or radiologist?

[MiniMum97]

Hi

I am finally going ahead with the above and done some ringing around and research.

I have a choice of travelling to London for a scan with a sonographer for about £120 (will take 1-1.5 hrs each way door to door I think but cost about £30/40 rtn), or seeing a radiographer at a local private hospital for about £280.

I am erring towards a trip to London as the cost difference is fairly significant.

I am want to know if I have hashis (TG and TPO tested multiple times, always negative).

Is there any advantage to seeing a radiologist? I assume a sonographer will tell me if there is an indication of hashis, and if anything else shows up, I could run it past my GP?

Many thanks

[MiniMum97]

bumping in the hope of a reply!..

[Greekchick]

Hi Minimum,

My opinion for the 2 cents it is worth, is to go with a radiographer - and forget running it by your GP. Unfortunately, GPs know very little about thyroid. You will need an endocrinologist to be properly diagnosed and treated. GPs won’t even be able to prescribe what you need. You should get a referral sooner rather than later. Also, the radiologists have more training and will likely give you a better report. Hope this helps and that you feel better soon! All the best.

[MiniMum97 in reply to Greekchick]

Hi thanks for your reply.

Apologies, I didn't put it in my post as it's in my bio, but i already have a diagnosis of hypothyroidism (cause unknown) and am currently on levo. I also have Graves' disease which is in remission. My endo and I suspect I have antibody negative hashimoto's and I would like it confirmed (or not).

Having seen an endo, and other posts on here, i am not sure endos always know what they are talking about either!!

Note what you say about a better report but do i need a "better" report if i am just looking for hashis?

Thanks

[Greekchick in reply to MiniMum97]

I understand and thanks for providing background info. I’m not sure how to advise you - radiographers are MDs and sonographers just read the scans.

Since you already have an endo, I presume you already have blood work for antibodies to indicate Hashis. If you trust your endo - maybe he/she can provide advice for you.

Sorry I couldn’t be more help! Wishing you all the best.