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Posts Tagged ‘thyroid treatment’

How is the disease diagnosed?

The diagnosis procedure of thyroid disease usually involves blood tests. The levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) are noted as part of screening test for the disease. When there is an increased level of TSH it indicates scarce production of thyroid hormone. Decreased levels of TSH indicate too much levels of hormone production.

There is a particular test for identifying between various forms of hypothyroidism. This involves injection of thyroid releasing hormone (TRH) into the vein. The hypothalamus usually secretes this hormone resulting in stimulation of the pituitary. The response of the pituitary is such that it releases TSH. Excessive quantities of TRH that is injected leads to suppression of TSH released. This release-suppression quantity is exaggerated in major depression, chronic phencyclidine abuse, primary hypothyroidism, cocaine dependence etc.

Ultrasound techniques are used in finding the thyroid nodule nature. This technique is called as ultrasonography. The diagnostic techniques also include radioiodine scanning. This imaging technique is called as thyroid scintigraphy. Medical biopsies of the tissues for examination are also used.

What treatment techniques are used for thyroid diseases?

Hypothyroidism can be treated with intake of Levothyroxine. Similarly thioamide medications are used to treat the Graves ’ disease. Radioactive iodine finds its use in treating hyperthyroidism.

Apart from the above medications, surgical procedures are also used for treatment. These are often used to remove the thyroid’s lobe or nodule for biopsies. Subtotal thyroidectomy is the surgical procedure that removes major part of thyroid as a part of treatment to hyperthyroidism. Complete thyroidectomy is a surgery of the whole thyroid used to treat thyroid cancer.
Radioiodine therapy is used to treat large goiters. These goiters can often show symptoms but they do not lead to cancer.