Final answer:
For thyroid gland imaging, ultrasonography using high-frequency sound waves is often used due to its non-invasive nature, and nuclear medicine scans with radioactive iodine isotopes can also be employed to assess thyroid function.
Step-by-step explanation:
The choice of transducer for scanning the thyroid gland is crucial for obtaining clear images. Ultrasonography is a common and least invasive technique used to image the thyroid, employing high-frequency sound waves to generate real-time images. When it comes to the thyroid gland, which absorbs iodine, nuclear medicine scans utilizing radioactive iodine isotopes, such as Na¹³¹I or Na¹²³I, are also employed for diagnostics. These isotopes are concentrated by the most active thyroid cells and provide insight into the gland's function, indicating conditions like hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism based on iodine uptake levels. Additionally, higher-frequency ultrasound may be utilized, but the penetration depth is limited, which is why the appropriate frequency must be selected to achieve detailed imaging of the thyroid without compromising penetration depth.