Mandatory medical device diagnostics.
- Thyroid ultrasonography (ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland) – as a basic examination to determine thyroid size and volume as well as any structural changes such as nodules; if necessary, with fine-needle biopsy[autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT): echo-poor parenchyma (“tissue”) with reduced vascularization (vascular drawing) or, in addition, in the case of prolonged AIT, inhomogeneous parenchyma and presence of small thyroid volume]
Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, laboratory diagnostics and mandatory medical device diagnostics – for differential diagnostic clarification.
- Thyroid scintigraphy – to estimate the activity of the thyroid gland (eg, nodular changes, suspected thyroid carcinoma, etc.).
- Computed tomography (CT; sectional imaging method (X-ray images from different directions with computer-based evaluation)) of the neck – for further diagnostics.
