Prof. Miller is highly skilled in the use of thyroid and parathyroid ultrasound. She has lectured on several workshops to teach other specialist doctors to perform thyroid and parathyroid ultrasound.
Thyroid needle biopsy:
Thyroid nodules are very common, and most will not be cancer. Most people with thyroid nodules do not need surgery. But if your thyroid nodule is large enough, or has a suspicious appearance on images, a fine needle biopsy will help determine whether it's safe to leave it alone, or whether thyroid surgery is required.
If you need a thyroid needle biopsy, Prof. Miller will perform it at the time of your consultation. She has performed more than 4000 thyroid fine needle biopsies without complications. The test involves only minor discomfort, and most patients say it is no worse than a blood test. A friendly cytology technician will attend as well.
Parathyroid ultrasound:
With a thorough knowledge of neck anatomy, specialist endocrine surgeons are ideally placed to perform the ultrasound to identify which parathyroid gland is causing the blood calcium to rise. The best information is gained from a combination of Ultrasound and Parathyroid CT performed and interpreted by expert radiologists. We can arrange the Parathyroid CT for you.
Ultrasound in the operating room:
Prof. Miller uses a portable ultrasound machine in the operating room to guide injection of local anaesthetic. This procedure allows the operation to be done safely and comfortably with a lighter anaesthesia, so you feel more comfortable and less sleepy when you wake up.
For minimally invasive parathyroid surgery, the use of ultrasound in the operating room allows exact placement of the incision directly over the parathyroid tumour, allowing for a smaller incision.