Diagnosis of Thyroid Gland - Dubai Thyroid Clinic

Thyroid Diagnosis:

Thyroid disease is one of the most common conditions worldwide. People who have thyroid problems yet are not diagnosed make up the majority of thyroid patients. Although the neck check self-test is not considered diagnostic, we can still perform it on our necks to look for visible, palpable lumps or any enlargement. Call +97142798200 for thyroid gland disorders treatment.

Clinical Examination:

The clinical examination should definitely be performed by a trained doctor. For example, a neck inspection to look for swelling, enlargement, palpable or visible nodules (lumps), signs and symptoms of over or underfunction, testing the reflexes, heart rate, rhythm, blood pressure, weight changes, body temperature, face changes, for example, loss of the outer eyebrows, or eye changes such as bulging of the eyes

Blood Tests:

Blood tests are done for the evaluation of the TSH levels (thyroid stimulating hormone produced by the pituitary gland, which controls the function of the thyroid gland), free T3, total T3, free T4, and total T4 hormones produced by the thyroid gland.

Antibodies such as thyrotropin receptor antibodies or thyroid peroxidase antibodies indicate an autoimmune disease. Measuring the levels of calcitonin, a hormone produced by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland, also plays a role in the diagnosis. This hormone regulates the levels of calcium and phosphate. High levels of calcitonin could be an indicator of a rare type of cancer, medullary thyroid cancer.

Ultrasound of the thyroid gland:

Ultrasound of the thyroid gland can evaluate the size and shape of nodules or lumps, and differentiate between cysts and mass of solid tissues.

A nuclear scan of the thyroid gland, also called radioiodine uptake, can differentiate between hot nodules (high uptake of the radioactive substance) which is related to over function of the gland by, for example, Grave’s disease or inflammation of the gland (thyroiditis) and cold nodules (low or absence of uptake) which may be due to a cyst or suspicious nodules. CT scan and MRI are considered part of the diagnosis. These are used to evaluate the thyroid gland and even the neighboring structures in case of suspicious thyroid cancer. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is used to evaluate suspicious nodules.

Understanding the different tests used in the diagnosis of the thyroid gland and how to interpret the results is very important. With all these measures, we are able to make an accurate diagnosis which will help us in the treatment of the disease.