Thyroid Disorders Health Channel

	Feature Article Illustrations for this article Click on an image below to enlarge Endocrine glands Thyroid gland Show all 4 photos Thyroid diseases Definition The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck, just below the voice box (larynx). It produces chemicals (hormones) that help the body control metabolism. Thyroid hormone is also produced in response to another hormone released by the pituitary gland. There are four main types of thyroid disease: Hyperthyroidism -- too much thyroid hormone Hypothyroidism -- too little thyroid hormone Benign (non-cancerous) thyroid disease Thyroid cancer For information about a specific type of thyroid disease, see one of the following: Anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid Chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease) Colloid nodular goiter Hyperthyroidism Hypopituitarism Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism - primary Hypothyroidism - secondary Medullary thyroid carcinoma Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) II Painless (silent) thyroiditis Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid Subacute thyroiditis Thyroid cancer Congenital goiter Continue reading this article

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Neonatal hypothyroidism (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Neonatal hypothyroidism is decreased thyroid hormone production in a newborn. In very rare cases, no thyroid hormone is produced.If the baby was born with the condition, it is called congenital hypothyroidism. Reviewer: Alan Greene, MD, FAAP, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital; Chief Medical Officer, A.D.A.M., Inc. Previously reviewed by Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, and physician in the Primary Care Clinic, Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. (7/17/2007)Date: 08/15/2007
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Hyperthyroidism (4 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland is overactive, and makes too much thyroid hormone(called thyroxine[ T4] and triiodothyronine[ T3]). Hormones are substances that affect and control many important functions in the body.The ...Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Deborah Wexler, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Endocrinologist, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 07/18/2008
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Factitious hyperthyroidism (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Factitious hyperthyroidism is higher than normal thyroid hormone levels that occur from taking too much thyroid hormone medication.Factitious thyrotoxicosis; thyrotoxicosis factitia; thyrotoxicosis medicamentosa.The thyroid gland produces the horm...Reviewer: Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/17/2008
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Chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease) (4 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Chronic thyroiditis is swelling(inflammation) of the thyroid gland that often results in reduced thyroid function( hypothyroidism).Hashimoto''s thyroiditis; Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis; Autoimmune thyroiditis.Chronic thyroiditis or Hashimoto''s ...Reviewer: Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/17/2008
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Silent thyroiditis (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Silent thyroiditis is swelling(inflammation) of the thyroid gland, in which the person alternates between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.Lymphocytic thyroiditis; Subacute lymphocytic thyroiditis; Painless thyroiditis.The cause of this type of ...Reviewer: Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/17/2008
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Subacute thyroiditis (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Subacute thyroiditis involves swelling(inflammation) of the thyroid gland that usually follows an upper respiratory infection.De Quervain''s thyroiditis; Subacute nonsuppurative thyroiditis; Giant cell thyroiditis; Subacute granulomatous thyroiditi...Reviewer: Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/17/2008
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Retrosternal thyroid (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Retrosternal thyroid is an abnormal placement of all or part of the thyroid gland below the breastbone(sternum). The thyroid is normally located at the front of the neck.Reviewer: Shimul A. Shah, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/15/2008
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Thyroid cancer (4 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Thyroid cancer is a cancerous growth of the thyroid gland.Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/12/2009
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Thyroid preparation overdose (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Thyroid preparations are medications used to treat thyroid gland disorders. Overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes more than the normal or recommended amount of such medications.This is for information only and not for us...Reviewer: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Greg Juhn, MTPW, David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (10/29/2007).Date: 02/03/2009
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Thyroid function tests (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Thyroid function tests are common tests used to tell how well your thyroid is working.Reviewer: Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/17/2008
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Antithyroid microsomal antibody (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Antithyroid microsomal antibody is a test to measure antithyroid microsomal antibodies in the blood. Microsomes are found inside thyroid cells. Reviewer: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Greg Juhn, MTPW, David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Date: 12/01/2008
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Thyroid ultrasound (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A thyroid ultrasound is an imaging method used to see the thyroid-- a gland in the neck that regulates metabolism.Ultrasound- thyroid; Thyroid sonogram; Thyroid echogram.Ultrasound is a painless method that uses sound waves to create images of the...Reviewer: Benjamin Taragin, MD, Department of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/10/2008
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Thyroid scan (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A thyroid scan is a nuclear medicine examination that uses a radioactive iodine tracer to see how well the thyroid gland is working.Scan- thyroid; Radioactive iodine screening test- thyroid; RAUI; Nuclear scan- thyroid.You will be given a pill tha...Reviewer: Benjamin Taragin, MD, Department of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/10/2008
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Fine needle aspiration of the thyroid (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A fine needle aspiration of the thyroid gland is a procedure to remove thyroid cells for examination. The thyroid is located in front of the trachea(windpipe) at the top of the neck.Thyroid nodule fine needle aspirate biopsy; Biopsy- thyroid- skin...Reviewer: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/15/2008
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Thyroid excisional biopsy (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
The thyroid is an endocrine gland located in front of the trachea(windpipe) in the neck. In an excisional biopsy, a section of thyroid tissue is removed for diagnostic examination.This procedure is performed in a hospital operating room using gene...Reviewer: Brendan T. Campbell, M.D., MPH, Department of Surgery, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 12/22/2004
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Thyroid gland removal (1 Image, 1 Slideshow) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Thyroid gland removal is surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland. Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland that lies over your trachea(the tube that carries air to your lungs). Reviewer: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 01/30/2009
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