Thyroid Information

The Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland or simply, the thyroid, is one of the largest endocrine glands. The thyroid gland is found in the neck, below the thyroid cartilage (which forms the laryngeal prominence, or “Adam’s apple”). The thyroid gets its name from the Greek word for “shield”, due to the shape of the related thyroid cartilage. The thyroid gland controls how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins, and controls how sensitive the body is to other hormones. It participates in these processes by producing thyroid hormones.

The thyroid also produces calcitonin, which plays a role in calcium balance. The most common problems of the thyroid gland consist of an overactive thyroid gland, referred to as hyperthyroidism, and an underactive thyroid gland, referred to as hypothyroidism. The following pages provide thyroid information and general advice about the thyroid gland.

The Thyroid Gland

The thyroid is an endocrine gland located at the front of the neck below the larynx and around the trachea. Iodine, an element found in many foods, is taken up by the thyroid to produce thyroid hormone. Thyroid disorders are very common. Many people have an undiagnosed thyroid problem. Women are especially at risk for having unrecognised thyroid problems especially if they have a history of diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, pernicious anaemia, prematurely gray hair, vitiligo or other autoimmune disease.

The importance of regulating thyroid function

The thyroid gland is small gland that weighs less than 50 grams in most adults. It is located towards the front of the neck. Although small, it plays a large role in producing hormones that every cell in your body relies on for the proper conversion of calories and oxygen to energy. In other words, metabolism regulation is dependent on thyroid function and the condition of your thyroid gland.

Thyroid blood tests

Thyroid function tests are measured by a thyroid blood test. The standard Thyroid Function Tests which are performed in Australia are: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Free Thyroxine (Free T4 or FT4) and Free Triiodothyronine (Free T3 or FT3). In Australia the Medicare protocol for screening patients who have not yet been diagnosed with a thyroid function problem is to test TSH first and only if the result of this test is outside the reference range then to test Free T4.

Thyroid biopsy

The cornerstone in the assessment of a solitary thyroid nodule is a procedure known as thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Thyroid biopsy is valuable in the assessment of thyroid disease. When performed properly, FNAC testing has a false negative rate of less than 5%. This means that a positive finding, such as cancer, will be missed fewer than five times out of 100.

Thyroid gland location

Your thyroid gland is located towards the front of your neck. Situated along the front of your windpipe, it sits low and is below the laryngeal prominence (better known as the Adam’s apple). This gland secretes essential hormones called thyroid hormones that are responsible for proper growth and development, balanced metabolism, and proper regulation of your body’s temperature.

Thyroid imaging

Thyroid ultrasound is usually the first thyroid imaging test requested and uses sound waves to image the thyroid – the sound waves are emitted from a small hand-held transducer that is passed over the thyroid. This test is quick, accurate, cheap, painless, and completely safe. It usually takes only about 10 minutes and the results can be known almost immediately thyroid ultrasound will help determine the nature of a thyroid nodule, and therefore if a biopsy is required.

Thyroid investigations

Symptoms and signs such as fatigue, anxiety or depression, unexplained weight gain or loss, change in bowel movements, difficulty sleeping, muscle aches, and joint stiffness may signify that you have a thyroid disorder. Once you suspect that your thyroid gland is not functioning properly, it is important to get a professional diagnosis and thyroid investigations so that you can work towards alleviating your symptoms.