Thyroid

THYROID

Thyroid gland is a small organ that’s located in the front of the neck, wrapped around the windpipe (trachea). It’s shaped like a butterfly, smaller in the middle with two wide wings that extend around the side of your throat. The thyroid is a gland. You have glands throughout your body, where they create and release substances that help your body do a specific thing. Your thyroid makes hormones that help control many vital functions of your body.

When your thyroid doesn’t work properly, it can impact your entire body. If your body makes too much thyroid hormone, you can develop a condition called hyperthyroidism. If your body makes too little thyroid hormone, it’s called hypothyroidism. Both conditions are serious and need to be treated by your healthcare provider.

What common symptoms can happen with thyroid disease?

There are a variety of symptoms you could experience if you have a thyroid disease. Unfortunately, symptoms of a thyroid condition are often very similar to the signs of other medical conditions and stages of life. This can make it difficult to know if your symptoms are related to a thyroid issue or something else entirely.

For the most part, the symptoms of thyroid disease can be divided into two groups — those related to having too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) and those related to having too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism).

Symptoms of an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can include:

  • Experiencing anxiety, irritability and nervousness.
  • Having trouble sleeping.
  • Losing weight.
  • Having an enlarged thyroid gland or a goiter.
  • Having muscle weakness and tremors.
  • Experiencing irregular menstrual periods or having your menstrual cycle stop.
  • Feeling sensitive to heat.
  • Having vision problems or eye irritation.

Symptoms of an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can include:

  • Feeling tired (fatigue).
  • Gaining weight.
  • Experiencing forgetfulness.
  • Having frequent and heavy menstrual periods.
  • Having dry and coarse hair.
  • Having a hoarse voice.
  • Experiencing an intolerance to cold temperatures.

Basic Tests

Thyroid-stimulating Hormone (TSH) Blood Test

The Thyroid-stimulating Hormone (TSH) Blood Test checks thyroid gland function.

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO) Blood Test

A TPO Blood Test provides a differential diagnosis of hypothyroidism and thyroiditis.

Thyroxine (T4) Free Direct Serum Test

A T4 Free Direct Serum Test is ordered to help in evaluating thyroid gland function.

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) Intact Blood Test

A PTH Intact Blood Test diagnoses parathyroid disease and other diseases of calcium homeostasis; monitoring patients undergoing renal dialysis.

Tri-iodothyronine (T3) Free Serum Test

A Free T3 is ordered to evaluate thyroid function.

Thyroid Antibodies Panel Blood Test

The Thyroid Antibodies Panel Blood Test includes a TPO and TAA.

Tri-iodothyronine (T3) Blood Test

The T3 Blood Test is ordered to help in evaluating thyroid gland function and in the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism.

Iodine Blood Test

An iodine blood test monitors exposure to iodine; evaluate for iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs), excessive iodine intake, or iodine in the workplace.

Calcium Ionized Serum Test

The Calcium Ionized Serum Test measures the amount of Ionized Calcium, also known as free calcium, in the blood.

Thyroxine (T4) Blood Test

The Thyroxine Blood Test is a thyroid function test.

Thyroid Antithyroglobulin Antibody (TAA) Blood Test

A Thyroid Antithyroglobulin Antibody (TAA) Blood Test helps diagnose an autoimmune thyroid disease and separate it from other forms of thyroiditis.

Thyroid-stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI) Blood Test

The TSI Blood Test aids in the diagnosis of autoimmune disorders which affect the Thyroid

Thyroglobulin Antibodies Blood Test

The Thyroglobulin Antibodies Blood Test helps to diagnose autoimmune thyroid disease and separate it from other forms of thyroiditis.

Thyrotropin Receptor Antibody Blood Test

A Thyrotropin Receptor Antibody Blood Test is used in the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease.

Prealbumin Blood Test

This Prealbumin Blood Test evaluates protein malnutrition, total parenteral nutrition, and liver dysfunction.

Thyroxine-Binding Globulin (TBG) Serum Test

The TBG Serum Test measures the level of TBG, a protein that moves thyroid hormone throughout your body.

Calcitonin Blood Test

The Calcitonin Blood Test measures the level of hormone calcitonin in the blood

Parathyroid Hormone-related Peptide (PTH-rP) (Endocr…

The PTH-rP is used to aid in the evaluation of unexplained hypercalcemia, particularly in suspected hypercalcemia of malignancy.