To identify diseases that affect your thyroid, your doctor may order several tests to evaluate gland size, tumors, and thyroid function, for example, your doctor may recommend measuring hormones directly related to thyroid function, such as TSH, free T4, and T3., as well as imaging tests to detect nodules, such as thyroid ultrasound.
However, more specific tests, such as scans, biopsies, or antibody tests, may also be prescribed, which may be recommended by the endocrinologist when certain conditions, such as thyroiditis or thyroid tumors, are investigated.See signs that may indicate thyroid problems.
The most requested tests to evaluate the thyroid are
Measuring thyroid hormones using a blood test allows your doctor to evaluate the functioning of the gland, and can check if the person has abnormalities suggesting hypo or hyperthyroidism, for example.
Although reference values may vary depending on a person’s age, pregnancy, and lab, normal values generally include:
Total T4
After identifying the change in thyroid function, your doctor will evaluate the need for more tests to help identify the cause of these changes, such as an ultrasound or antibody measurement, for example.
Understand the possible results of the TSH test
Blood tests may also be done to measure antibodies targeted against the thyroid, which can be produced by the body in certain autoimmune diseases, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease, for example, the main ones are:
Doctors should only order thyroid autoantibodies in cases where thyroid hormones are impaired, or if thyroid disease is suspected, to help clarify the cause.
Thyroid ultrasound can be used to evaluate the size of the gland and the presence of changes such as cysts, tumors, goiter or nodules, although this test cannot tell if an injury is cancerous, it is very useful for detecting its characteristics and guiding the puncture of nodules or cysts to facilitate diagnosis.
Thyroid scan is an exam that uses a small amount of radioactive iodine and a special camera to obtain an image of the thyroid and identify the activity level of a nodule.
It is primarily indicated to look for suspected nodules of cancer or when hyperthyroidism is suspected to be caused by a hormone-secreting nodule, also called a hot or hyperfunctional nodule.Learn how thyroid scans are done and how to prepare for the test.
A biopsy or puncture is performed to determine if the nodule or thyroid cyst is benign or malignant During the exam, your doctor inserts a thin needle into your nodule and removes a small amount of tissue or fluid that forms this nodule, so that this sample can be evaluated in the lab.
Thyroid biopsy can be painful or bothersome because it is not performed under anesthesia and your doctor may move the needle during the test so you can take samples from different parts of the nodule or suck in more fluid.and lasts about 10 minutes, then the person should remain with a bandage placed for a few hours.
A thyroid self-examination may be performed to identify the presence of cysts or nodules in the gland, which is important to help detect any early changes and prevent complications of the disease and should be performed primarily by women over 35 or with a family history of thyroid problems.
To do this, you need to follow these steps
If changes are found in the thyroid, it is important to seek the attention of the endocrinologist or general practitioner so that the investigation can be conducted with tests that may or may not confirm a change in the thyroid.
Thyroid tests are indicated for people over the age of 35 or earlier if there are family symptoms or a history of thyroid changes, pregnant or wishing to become pregnant women, and for people who have noticed changes during the self-examination or medical examination.thyroid.
In addition, tests are also indicated after radiation therapy for neck or head cancer and during treatment with medications, such as lithium, amiodarone, or cytokines, that can interfere with thyroid function.