title: Thyroid gland visualization with 3D/4D ultrasound: integrated hands-on imaging in anatomical dissection laboratory.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In teaching anatomy, clinical imaging has been utilized to supplement the traditional dissection laboratory promoting education through visualization of spatial relationships of anatomical structures. Viewing the thyroid gland using 3D/4D ultrasound can be valuable to physicians as well as students learning anatomy. The objective of this study was to investigate the perceptions of first-year medical students regarding the integration of 3D/4D ultrasound visualization of spatial anatomy during anatomical education.
  
  
  METHODS
  108 first-year medical students were introduced to 3D/4D ultrasound imaging of the thyroid gland through a detailed 20-min tutorial taught in small group format. Students then practiced 3D/4D ultrasound imaging on volunteers and donor cadavers before assessment through acquisition and identification of thyroid gland on at least three instructor-verified images. A post-training survey was administered assessing student impression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All students visualized the thyroid gland using 3D/4D ultrasound. Students revealed 88.0% strongly agreed or agreed 3D/4D ultrasound is useful revealing the thyroid gland and surrounding structures and 87.0% rated the experience "Very Easy" or "Easy", demonstrating benefits and ease of use including 3D/4D ultrasound in anatomy courses. When asked, students felt 3D/4D ultrasound is useful in teaching the structure and surrounding anatomy of the thyroid gland, they overwhelmingly responded "Strongly Agree" or "Agree" (90.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed that 3D/4D ultrasound was successfully used and preferred over 2D ultrasound by medical students during anatomy dissection courses to accurately identify the thyroid gland. In addition, 3D/4D ultrasound may nurture and further reinforce stereostructural spatial relationships of the thyroid gland taught during anatomy dissection.
authors.affiliation: Medical Anatomy Center, Western University of Health Sciences, COMP-Northwest, 200 Mullins Drive, Lebanon, OR, 97355, USA.
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Medical Anatomy Center, Western University of Health Sciences, COMP-Northwest, 200 Mullins Drive, Lebanon, OR, 97355, USA.
authors.forename: Ankura
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Medical Anatomy Center, Western University of Health Sciences, COMP-Northwest, 200 Mullins Drive, Lebanon, OR, 97355, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hocum
authors.affiliation: Medical Anatomy Center, Western University of Health Sciences, COMP-Northwest, 200 Mullins Drive, Lebanon, OR, 97355, USA. bbenninger@weseternu.edu.|Medical Anatomy Center, Department of Medical Anatomical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, COMP-Northwest, Lebanon, USA. bbenninger@weseternu.edu.|Department of Orthopedic Surgery, General Surgery, and Sports Medicine, Samaritan Health Services, Corvallis, OR, USA. bbenninger@weseternu.edu.
authors.forename: Brion
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Benninger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education*; D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
keywords: 3D ultrasound; 3D/4D ultrasound; First-year medical students; Gross anatomy; Medical education; Thyroid gland; Ultrasonography