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Thyroid - Problems, Cancer, Disease... Thyroid - hypothyroidism & hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer & thyroid disease... Thyroid disease: cancer, nodules, surgery, radiation, hormone problems ... Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Nodules...
Thyroid Problems Thyroid Cancer Thyroid Disease Thyroid Symptoms Thyroid Gland Thyroid Nodules Thyroid Disorders Underactive Thyroid The thyroid is one of the largest endocrine glands in the body. This gland is found in the neck just below the Adam's apple. The thyroid controls how quickly the body burns energy, makes proteins, and how sensitive the body should be to other hormones. The thyroid participates in these processes by producing thyroid hormones, principally thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones regulate the rate of metabolism and affect the growth and rate of function of many other systems in the body. Iodine is an essential component of both T3 and T4. The thyroid also produces the hormone calcitonin, which plays a role in calcium homeostasis. The thyroid is controlled by the hypothalamus and pituitary. The gland gets its name from the Greek word for "shield", after its shape, a double-lobed structure. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) are the most common problems of the thyroid gland. Specialists are called Thyroidologists. Anatomy The thyroid is situated on the front side of the neck, starting at the oblique line on the thyroid cartilage (just below the laryngeal prominence or Adam's apple), and extending to the 6th Tracheal ring (C-shaped cartilagenous ring of the trachea). Vertebral levels are inappropriate to demarcate the gland's upper and lower border with vertebral levels as it moves position in relation to these during swallowing. It lies over the trachea and is covered by layers of pretracheal fascia (allowing it to move), muscle and skin. The thyroid is one of the larger endocrine glands - 10-20 grams in adults and butterfly-shaped. The wings correspond to the lobes and the body to the isthmus of the thyroid. The isthmus overlies tracheal rings 2, 3 and 4. The thyroid may enlarge substantially during pregnancy and when affected by a variety of diseases. Diseases of the thyroid gland Hyper- and hypofunction (affects about 2% of the population) * Hypothyroidism (underactivity) o Hashimoto's thyroiditis / thyroiditis o Ord's thyroiditis o Postoperative hypothyroidism o Postpartum thyroiditis o Silent thyroiditis o Acute thyroiditis o Iatrogenic hypothyroidism * Hyperthyroidism (overactivity) o Thyroid storm o Graves-Basedow disease o Toxic thyroid nodule o Toxic nodular struma (Plummer's disease) o Hashitoxicosis o Iatrogenic hyperthyroidism o De Quervain thyroiditis (inflammation starting as hyperthyroidism, can end as hypothyroidism) Anatomical problems * Goitre o Endemic goitre o Diffuse goitre o Multinodular goitre * Lingual thyroid * Thyroglossal duct cyst Tumors * Thyroid adenoma * Thyroid cancer o Papillary o Follicular o Medullary o Anaplastic * Lymphomas and metastasis from elsewhere (rare) Deficiencies * Cretinism Medication linked to thyroid disease includes amiodarone, lithium salts, some types of interferon and IL-2. Diagnosis Blood tests * The measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels is often used by doctors as a screening test. Elevated TSH levels can signify an inadequate hormone production, while suppressed levels can point at excessive unregulated production of hormone. * If TSH is abnormal, decreased levels of thyroid hormones T4 and T3 may be present; these may be determined to confirm this. * Autoantibodies may be detected in various disease states (anti-TG, anti-TPO, TSH receptor stimulating antibodies). * There are two cancer markers for thyroid derived cancers. Thyroglobulin (TG) for well differentiated papillary or follcular adenocarcinoma, and the rare medullary thyroid cancer has calcitonin as the marker. * Very infrequently, TBG and transthyretin levels may be abnormal; these are not routinely tested. original post by www.wikipedia.org Thyroid - hypothyroidism & hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancer & thyroid disease... Thyroid disease: cancer, nodules, surgery, radiation, hormone problems ... ThyroidThyroid Cancer, Thyroid Nodules... Thyroid Problems Thyroid Cancer Thyroid Disease Thyroid Symptoms Thyroid Gland Thyroid Nodules Thyroid Disorders Underactive Thyroid
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