Thyroid Disorders

Radioactive iodine is sometimes used to treat hyperthyroidism in people who have noncancerous thyroid nodules. What to think about If a nodule is noncancerous but is producing too much thyroid hormone, causing hyperthyroidism, antithyroid medicines may... Full Answer

Most thyroid nodules aren't cancerous. Many thyroid nodules don't need medical treatment. If you have a thyroid nodule that is being watched, schedule regular medical checkups to see whether there are any changes. If you have had surgery to remove your... Full Answer

Experts don't know the exact cause of thyroid nodules. But they do know that people who have been exposed to radiation have a greater chance of developing thyroid nodules. Exposure to environmental radiation or past radiation treatment to the head,... Full Answer

In rare cases, children can be born without a thyroid gland or with a thyroid gland that is extremely underdeveloped. Genetics or the mother's intake of radioactive iodine medication may play a role in some of these cases. In other cases, the cause is... Full Answer

Thyroid disease can be detected by a careful medical history and then confirmed with a blood test. Sometimes a woman may have troublesome symptoms but her thyroid blood tests are only mildly abnormal. These individuals may have subclinical... Full Answer

The tricky thing about a problematic thyroid is that many of the symptoms that may result from hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism are easy to dismiss as nonsymptoms or as the result of some other condition or lifestyle factor. For example, weight... Full Answer

This simple assessment could alert you to a potential thyroid problem. Tip your head back and hold a mirror so that you can see the portion of your neck that is between your collarbone and your Adam's apple. Take a sip of water and swallow. If you... Full Answer

When a thyroid nodule is detected, the physician will ask you about your medical history and perform a complete physical exam. Symptoms such as pain, swelling in the neck, difficulty with swallowing, shortness of breath, difficulty with... Full Answer

If you are diagnosed with follicular adenoma thyroid nodules, there are several treatment options. Your doctor may recommend waiting to see what happens as some nodules will not change over time and therefore, will not cause further problems. Another... Full Answer

Your doctor may find a thyroid nodule when they complete a regular exam. In addition, an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI may be ordered to diagnosis the type and extent of a thyroid nodule. Blood work will be ordered to check hormone levels. Further testing... Full Answer