Thyroid

Thyroid Disease

The thyroid gland is located just below the larynx in the lower neck. The thyroid gland secretes the thyroid hormones, which regulate the body's metabolism. Thus, the gland is essential to helping maintain the rate at which you body burns energy.

In effect, if you have too little thyroid hormone, you will be burning energy too slow. You can feel cold, gain weight, loose hair, have a hoarse voice, and feel generally fatigued. If you have too much hormone, you may feel wired, generally feel inappropriately warm or hot, and may be loosing weight. When you have normal thyroid function, you are in a state of balance. Normal thyoid function is termed euthyroid, whereas low and high thyroid are referred to hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

In addition to abnormal states of thyroid hormone level, the thyroid gland can be affected by localized enlargement (nodules) within the gland, an overall enlargement in size of the (goiter) of the thyroid gland. or inflammation of the gland (thyroiditis). Interestingly, abnormal nodules, goiters, or inflammation of the gland can also lead to abnormal levels of hormone production.

Thyroiditis is pretty rare, but can be the result of infection by a virus or bacteria.

Abnormal enlargement or nodules of the glands havebe investigated to determine if they are benign noncancerous conditions, or if they are the result of thyroid cancers. This is typically done directly by obtaining a needle biopsy in the office, though this may be inconclusive, in which case the gland may need to be removed surgically to identify and treat a cancer.