Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 21/07/2013 02:30:02

Title: How is thyroid function tested?
Post by: thedoc on 21/07/2013 02:30:02

dr thom  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
I wonder, can you tell us is there a definitive test for thyroid problems and what is it?

What do you think?

Title: Re: How is thyroid function tested?
Post by: evan_au on 21/07/2013 05:34:51

There are a variety of thyroid problems (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyroid#Disorders), including overactive (hyperthyroid), underactive (hypothyroid) and cancer. (You could also include goiter from insufficient iodine in the diet, but this is best treated as a dietary deficiency rather than a thyroid malfunction.)

There are also a variety of thyroid tests (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyroid_function_tests) which try to link the symptoms (eg insufficient or excess thyroid hormone delivery) with the possible causes (eg lack of hormones to stimulate the thyroid, or lack of ability to deliver the thyroid hormones, auto-immune disease, cancer or diet).