Part of the endocrine system, which is responsible for hormonal regulation.
It essentially wants to regulate the body’s thyroid hormone level at euthyroid
state, how ever there can be two extreme ends of the continuum which shows a
diseased state of the thyroid gland activities- Hyper and Hypo thyroid states
It is a butterfly shaped gland with two lobes.
It is located at the anterior part of the neck, anterior to the trachea and posterior
to the larynx. Posterior to the thyroid glad are the four tiny parathyroid glands
which regulates the amount of Calcium in the blood.
The thyroid gland uses iodine from food to make thyroid gland through a negative
loop feedback mechanism. The regulation of the thyroid gland starts in the
hypothalamus which secretes the thyrotropin releasing hormone which then
triggers the pituitary gland to secrete Thyroid stimulating hormone and the TSH
stimulates the thyroid gland to secrete the triiodothyronine T3 hormone,
Calcitonine and thyroxine T4 hormones.
The three hormones secreted by the thyroid gland regulates
The metabolic state
growth and development
amount of Ca and P in the blood
Causes: Graves’ disease- autoimmune disease
Toxic nodular goitre: Enlarged thyroid gland with over secretion of the thyroid
hormones
Thyroiditis: Inflammation of the thyroid gland caused by infection, autoimmune
disease or drug effect.
Exogenous iodine excess: High iodine intakes are well tolerated by most healthy
individuals, but in some people, excess iodine intakes may precipitate
hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, goiter, and/or thyroid autoimmunity.
Exogenous causes include non‐thyroidal diseases caused by production
of thyroid hormones at sites away from the thyroid glands like ectopic
thyroid tissue or metastatic thyroid carcinoma
Thyroid dysfunction due to excess iodine intake is usually mild and transient, but
iodine-induced hyperthyroidism can be life-threatening in some individuals.
Pituitary tumors: This is an abnormality of the pituitary gland leading to high
secretion of the TSH which causes the thyroid gland to excessively secrete T3 and
T4
Thyroid cancer: This is caused by thyroid carcinomas causing hyperthyroidism.
Past health history: Pre-existing goitre; recent infection or trauma; immigration
from iodine-deficient area; autoimmune disease; positive family history of
thyroid or autoimmune disorders
Medications: Use of thyroid hormones or herbal therapies that may contain
thyroid hormone
Physical examination: Check vitals, assess the neck for thyroid growth, mental
assessment (anxiety, nervousness, stuporous, eyes, skin, bowel sounds.
Radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU): The radioactive iodine uptake test is indicated
to differentiate Graves’ disease from other forms of thyroiditis. The 24-hour test
of radioiodine uptake in patients with Graves’ disease reveals a diffuse,
homogeneous uptake of 35% to 90%, whereas in patients with thyroiditis, the
amount of uptake is less than 20%. Patients with nodular goitre demonstrate
uptake in the high-normal range.
Hypothyroidism
Drugs such as amiodarone
(which contains iodine) and lithium (which blocks hormone
production) are known to produce hypothyroidism.
Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies test: Used to diagnose and monitor aunto
immune conditions involving the thyroid gland such as Hashimoto thyroiditis
and Graves diseases.
If your results show high levels of antibodies against thyroid peroxidase or thyroglobulin, you
may have Hashimoto's disease. If you have lots of antibodies against the thyroid stimulating
hormone receptor, you may have Graves' disease.
The Thyroid Foundation of Canada is a non-profit registered volunteer
organization whose mission is to support thyroid patients across Canada
through awareness, education, and research.
Thyroid patient Canada.
We believe all thyroid patients should be able to obtain an accurate and full
diagnosis, complete thyroid hormone testing, as well as individualized
adjustments to optimize their thyroid therapy.
NORD’s Rare Disease Database provides information for patients and caregivers to specific
rare diseases.
This Resource Center provides patients and caregivers with free webinars, fact sheets,
infographics and other helpful materials to guide you on your journey with a rare disease.