Ahmad Z. Sheikh, MD, ECNU, endocrinologist on staff at Saint Francis Medical Center and Cape Diabetes and Endocrinology, is one of the first 50 physicians in the United States to receive endocrine certification in neck ultrasound (ECNU). This prestigious certification demonstrates that a physician has met rigorous testing and evaluation standards. The American College of Endocrinology, affiliated with the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), issues the certification.

Learning proper ultrasound techniques is important for endocrinologists to improve accuracy in diagnosis. This certification recognizes endocrinologists who are proficient in evaluation and diagnosis of thyroid and parathyroid disorders.

ECNU covers diagnostic ultrasound for the thyroid, parathyroid glands and lymph nodes, as well as ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration techniques. According to the AACE, neck ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration have become integral in the daily practice of endocrinology over the past 15 to 20 years.

Volunteer content experts from the American College of Endocrinology worked for several years to develop the ECNU program, which is based on practice analysis. Subject-matter experts – including endocrinologists experienced in ultrasonography and certified sonographers – conduct the evaluations.

To receive certification, Sheikh, who received ultrasound training at Endocrine University® at the Mayo Clinic, took a comprehensive certification examination. He completed 125 neck ultrasounds and submitted samples to ACCE to assess his demonstrated competency, activity and skill level.

"Candidates are given a 12-month period to complete the process," Sheikh says. "It took me about eight months." Sheikh expects the certification to become increasingly important in the future. "In the next two to three years, certification may become mandatory for all endocrinologists who use ultrasound," he says.

Because of improvements in technology and the ease of use, ultrasound has become a popular diagnostic technique. "It has improved tremendously, and is at the same time extremely safe," Sheikh says. Before ultrasound, physicians used palpation or other imaging methods to diagnose thyroid disease.

Ultrasound helps specialists detect thyroid nodules and look for features raising suspicion for thyroid cancer. It is also used to examine the lymph nodes and parathyroid glands, examine thyroid enlargement, and check the blood flow in the thyroid. Depending on the ultrasound outcome, a patient may undergo a biopsy for further analysis.

"Ultrasound has significantly improved the diagnosis of thyroid disease," Sheikh says. It is particularly important because of the increasing incidence of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer in adults. "Physicians need to use all the available tools we have to improve detection of thyroid disorders."

Cape Diabetes and Endocrinology is a comprehensive center for the treatment and management of all endocrine disorders. This includes diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, high cholesterol lipid disorders, secondary hypertension, growth abnormalities in adults, and more.

If you believe you have a thyroid problem, talk with your primary care physician about a referral to Cape Diabetes and Endocrinology.