Identification and Differentiation of Thyroid Nodules by Acoustic Imaging and Viscoelastic Parameters

Inclusion Criteria:

* \* Male and female patient volunteers ages 8 and up who are suspicious for thyroid cancer

  * Patients who have palpable and sonographically detectable lymph nodes or nonthyroidal neck masses and are referred to Radiology Department or Endocrinology for fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB)
  * Patients 18 and up who were previously diagnosed with thyroid cancer and treated with thyroidectomy and recently diagnosed as having recurrence nodes on thyroid bed or on their neck

Exclusion Criteria:

* Because thyroid cancer is rare under the age of 8 years, children younger than this age are excluded from the study
* Having FNAB or surgical biopsy on thyroid in less than two weeks for thyroid nodule detection group
* Having FNAB or surgical biopsy on cervical lymph nodes or non- thyroidal masses for this group of patients