Thyroid Disorders
The thyroid is a gland that sits in the front, and towards the bottom, of your neck. It is responsible for producing a hormone called thyroxine. Thyroxine is important in regulating your metabolic rate.
Diseases that affect the thyroid can make it either overactive (producing too much thyroxine), underactive (not producing enough thyroxine) and/or enlarged (goitre). Occasionally the thyroid becomes inflamed and this results in (usually) transient abnormality of thyroid function. Endocrinologists specialise in these diseases as well as cancer of the thyroid. There are several causes of an overactive thyroid, the most common condition is called Graves Disease. Click here for further information on this condition.
Tests
Thyroid problems are usually picked up with a blood test but there are other tests that you may have to work out why the problem has occurred. These include:
- an ultrasound scan. This is where a hand-held scanner head is passed over your thyroid gland and pictures are taken
- a nuclear medicine scan. This is where you have an injection of a substance that only goes to the thyroid gland. Although it is radioactive it does not damage you or anyone else. Pictures are then taken of the thyroid gland that give the doctor information about what might be causing the problem
- fine needle aspirate (FNA). This is where the doctor puts a very fine needle (smaller than for a blood test) into the thyroid gland to take some cells to look at under the microscope.
Treatment
If your thyroid is underactive you will be started on thyroxine replacement.
If your thyroid is overactive then you will be started on treatment to control your thyroid's production of thyroxine. These treatments include:
- carbimazole - this treatment is usually well tolerated and can be taken once a day. Treatment is normally for 18 months, after which there is an approximately 50% chance of cure. These tablets are very safe, but very rarely may cause well recognised side effects of rash or reduced blood cell count. If you develop a rash see your GP. If you develop a sore throat, fever, flu like symptoms or mouth ulcers, see your GP to have an urgent blood test taken
- radioiodine treatment - this form of treatment is particularly useful for certain kinds of thyroid overactivity, or if you have recurrence of your overactive thyroid on stopping treatment. Click here for more information
- surgery - this is usually recommended if there have been abnormal cells found following an FNA, if there is a suggestion that the thyroid is compressing other structures such as the oesophagus or trachea or for cosmetic reasons.
Further Information
American Thyroid Association Patient Information Brochures
Document Downloads
- Radioiodine Treatment (PDF, 89.3 KB)
- Graves Disease (PDF, 44.3 KB)
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