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Thyroid Disorders Health Channel

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Endocrine glands

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Thyroid diseases

Definition

The thyroid gland is located in the base of the neck on both sides of the lower part of the voice box (larynx) and upper part of the wind pipe (trachea). The thyroid produces chemicals (hormones) that help the body control metabolism. Thyroid hormone is also produced in response to another hormone secreted by the pituitary gland.

There are four main types of thyroid disease:

For information about a specific type of thyroid disease see one of the following:

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Hypothyroidism - primary (2 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Primary hypothyroidism is a condition of decreased hormone production by the thyroid gland. Reviewer: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/12/2006

Hypothyroidism - secondary (2 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Secondary hypothyroidism is a condition where the activity of the thyroid gland is decreased, due to failure of the pituitary gland. Reviewer: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare NetworkDate: 08/08/2006

Drug-induced hypothyroidism (2 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Drug-induced hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid gland due to a reaction from medication. "Drug-induced" means caused or brought on by medication. Reviewer: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare NetworkDate: 08/08/2006

Neonatal hypothyroidism (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Neonatal hypothyroidism is decreased thyroid hormone production in a newborn. In very rare cases, no thyroid hormone is produced. If the baby was born with the condition, it is called congenital hypothyroidism. If it develops soon after birth, it is referred to as hypothyroidism acquired in the newborn period. Reviewer: Alan Greene, MD, FAAP, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital; Chief Medical Officer, A.D.A.M., Inc. Previously reviewed by Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, and physician in the Primary Care Clinic, Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. (7/17/2007)Date: 08/15/2007

Hyperthyroidism (4 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Hyperthyroidism is a condition caused by an overactive thyroid gland. The gland makes too much T4 and T3 hormones. Hormones are substances that affect and control many important functions in the body. Reviewer: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare NetworkDate: 08/08/2006

Factitious hyperthyroidism (1 image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Factitious hyperthyroidism is the presence of excessive thyroid hormone levels, caused by taking too much thyroid hormone medication. Reviewer: Robert Hurd, M.D., Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/25/2006

Chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s disease) (4 images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Chronic thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid gland that frequently results in hypothyroidism (lowered thyroid function. Reviewer: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/12/2006

Silent thyroiditis (1 image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Silent thyroiditis is inflammation of the thyroid gland that involves alternating hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism followed by recovery. Reviewer: Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, and physician in the Primary Care Clinic, Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/24/2007

Subacute thyroiditis (2 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Subacute thyroiditis involves inflammation of the thyroid gland that usually follows an upper respiratory infection and then subsides. Reviewer: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/12/2006

Retrosternal thyroid (3 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Retrosternal thyroid is an abnormal placement of all or part of the thyroid gland below the breastbone (sternum. The thyroid is normally located at the front of the neck. Reviewer: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/25/2007

Thyroid cancer (4 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Thyroid cancer is a malignancy (cancerous growth) of the thyroid gland. Reviewer: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided byVeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 05/26/2006

Thyroid preparation overdose (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Thyroid preparations are medications used to treat thyroid gland disorders. Overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes more than the normal or recommended amount of such medications. Reviewer: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/29/2007

Thyroid function tests (1 image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Thyroid function tests are common tests used to tell how well your thyroid is working. See the following articles for details: T3; T3 resin uptake; T4; Thyroid scan; TSH; TSI. Reviewer: Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 04/26/2007

Antithyroid microsomal antibody (1 image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
This is a test to measure antithyroid microsomal antibodies in the blood. Microsomes are small cell particles. The body produces microsomal antibodies when these small cell particles escape from damaged thyroid cells. A blood test can be done to detect and measure the amount of these antibodies in the blood. Reviewer: Steve Lee, DO, Rheumatology Fellow, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 06/18/2007

Thyroid ultrasound (1 image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A thyroid ultrasound is an imaging method used to see the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a gland located in the neck that regulates metabolism. Ultrasound is a painless method that uses sound waves to create images of the inside of the body. Reviewer: Stuart Bentley-Hibbert, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/23/2006

Thyroid scan (1 image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A thyroid scan is a nuclear medicine examination that uses radioactive iodine to check for hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer, or other thyroid gland growths. Reviewer: Stuart Bentley-Hibbert, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/17/2007

Fine needle aspiration of the thyroid (2 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A fine needle aspiration of the thyroid gland is a procedure to remove thyroid cells for examination. The thyroid is located in front of the trachea (windpipe) at the top of the neck. Reviewer: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/16/2006

Thyroid excisional biopsy (3 images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
The thyroid is an endocrine gland located in front of the trachea (windpipe) in the neck. In an excisional biopsy, a section of thyroid tissue is removed for diagnostic examination. Reviewer: Brendan T. Campbell, M.D., MPH, Department of Surgery, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 12/22/2004

Thyroid gland removal (1 image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Thyroid gland removal is surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland. Total thyroidectomy removes the entire gland; Subtotal or partial thyroidectomy removes part of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system and plays a major role in regulating the body's metabolism. Reviewer: J.A. Lee, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/16/2006

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