Test for Thyroid Diseases

Home > Thyroid

Overview
Symptoms
Types of Thyroid
Thyroid Problems
Causes of Thyroid
Diagnosis of Thyroid

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the front of the neck and produces triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) hormones. These hormones affect all aspects of metabolism and also influence the control of vital functions, such as body temperature and heart rate.

The thyroid gland also needs adequate amounts of dietary iodine to be able to produce T4 and T3.

Thyroid Tests / Packages

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What are the symptoms of Hypothyroidism?

Common symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Weight gain

Constipation

Hoarseness

Slowed heart rate

Enlarged thyroid gland (goitre)

Fatigue

Dry skin

Muscle weakness

Depression

Irregular period

Sensitivity to cold

Puffy face

Thinning hair

Impaired memory

Muscle aches

Babies with hypothyroidism may have:

Cold hands and feet
Constipation
Extreme sleepiness
Hoarse cry
Little or no growth
Low muscle tone
Persistent jaundice
Poor feeding habits
Puffy face
Stomach bloating
Swollen tongue

Children and teens have the same signs and symptoms as adults, but they may also experience:

Poor growth, resulting in short stature
Delayed development of permanent teeth
Delayed puberty
Poor mental development

What are the Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism?

Nervousness

Muscle Weakness

Weight Loss

Heat Sensitivity

Racing Heart

Irritability

Infrequent, Scant Menstrual Periods

Vision Problems

Enlarged Thyroid Gland

Types of Thyroid problems

The main types of thyroid problems are:

Hyperthyroidism
When the thyroid produces too much hormone. Its also called overactive thyroid.
Hypothyroidism
When the thyroid doesn't produce enough hormone. Its also called underactive thyroid.
Thyroid Cancer
When some of the thyroid cells become cancerous.
Goiter
An unusually enlarged thyroid gland. Usually, the only symptom of a goiter is a swelling in the neck. A very large goiter can also cause a tight feeling in the throat, coughing, problems swallowing or breathing.
Thyroid Nodules
A condition called toxic nodular goiter or multinodular goiter. Thyroid nodules are growths that form on or in the thyroid gland and can cause the thyroid gland to overproduce hormones.
Thyroiditis
An inflammation of the thyroid gland and may be associated with either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Thyroiditis may be due to an autoimmune disorder (especially Hashimoto thyroiditis), an infection, exposure to a chemical that is toxic to the thyroid, or due to an unknown cause (idiopathic).

How do Thyroid Problems Affect Women?

Women are more likely than men to have thyroid diseases, especially right after pregnancy and after menopause. In women, thyroid diseases can cause:

Problems with the menstrual period
The thyroid helps control the menstrual cycle. Hyperthyroidism or Hypothyroidism can make periods very light, heavy, or irregular. Thyroid disease can cause periods to stop for several months or longer, a condition called amenorrhea and can also lead to early menopause (before age 40).
Problems getting pregnant
When thyroid disease affects the menstrual cycle, it also affects ovulation making it harder to conceive.
Problems during pregnancy
Thyroid problems during pregnancy can cause health problems for the mother and the baby.

Causes of Hypothyroidism?

The following conditions cause hypothyroidism:

Hashimoto's thyroiditis

The most common cause of hypothyroidism. The disease occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and slowly destroys the thyroid gland and its ability to produce hormones.

Postpartum thyroiditis

An inflammation of the thyroid after giving birth, affecting around 10% of women.

Removal of the thyroid gland

The thyroid may have been surgically removed or chemically destroyed.

Medications

Few medications, particularly lithium may cause drug-induced hypothyroidism.

Congenital defects

Hypothyroidism can be present from birth resulting in mental retardation, goitre, and short stature.

Iodine deficiency

Lack of iodine diminishes the ability of the thyroid gland to make enough thyroid hormone.

What Causes Hyperthyroidism?

The following conditions cause hyperthyroidism:

Graves' disease

The most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Grave'sdisease is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland. This can cause the gland to overproduce the hormone responsible for regulating metabolism.

Thyroid Nodules

A condition called toxic nodular goitre or multinodular goitre. Thyroid nodules are growths that form on or in the thyroid gland and can cause the thyroid gland to overproduce hormones.

Pituitary adenoma

The tumour of the pituitary gland leads to overstimulation of the thyroid gland.

Subacute thyroiditis

A temporary inflammatory disorder of the thyroid gland resulting in periods of increased thyroid hormone release due to the inflammation.

How is Thyroid Disease Diagnosed?

Early diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease is crucial. Doctors may order one or more blood tests to check thyroid function.

TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
This test measures the amount of TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) in the blood. TSH stimulates the thyroid and is produced by the anterior pituitary gland. This test is used to diagnose hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, screen newborns for hypothyroidism, and monitor treatment for thyroid disorders.
T4, Free
This test helps to evaluate thyroid gland function and diagnose thyroid disease including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Free T4 is also used to help diagnose congenital hypothyroidism in newborns.
Almost all of the T4 found in the blood is bound to protein. The rest is free (unbound) and is the biologically active form of the hormone. This test measures the amount of free T4 in the blood.
T3 Free and Total
It helps to evaluate thyroid gland function and diagnose thyroid diseases including hyperthyroidism. It also helps to monitor the effectiveness of treatment of a thyroid disorder. Almost all of the T3 found in the blood is bound to protein. The rest is free (unbound) and is the biologically active form of the hormone. This test measures the amount of free T3 and total T3 (bound plus unbound) in the blood.
Thyroid Antibodies
This test measures the level of thyroid antibodies in the blood and helps to diagnose and monitor autoimmune thyroid diseases and to distinguish these from other forms of thyroid disease.
Antibodies are proteins made by the immune system to fight foreign substances like viruses and bacteria. There are different types of thyroid antibodies.
Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies: These antibodies can be a sign of Hashimoto thyroiditis or Graves' disease.
Thyroglobulin antibodies (Tg): These antibodies can also be a sign of both Graves' disease and Hashimoto thyroiditis. Most people with Hashimoto thyroiditis have high levels of both Tg and TPO antibodies.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies (TSHR): These antibodies can be a sign of Graves' disease.
Thyroglobulin
This test measures the amount of thyroglobulin, a protein produced by the thyroid gland, in the blood. This test is used to monitor the treatment of thyroid cancer and to detect recurrence.

Non-Laboratory Tests

Thyroid scans
A specialised imaging procedure to diagnose thyroid gland abnormalities and to evaluate thyroid function in different areas of the thyroid.
Ultrasound
An imaging scan that is used to examine the thyroid for abnormalities, including cysts, nodules or tumours.