In this Article

• Introduction to thyroid disease
• Thyroid 101: What is the thyroid and what does it do?
• What types of thyroid disease can occur when the function of the thyroid is affected?
• What signs and symptoms can occur if thyroid function is affected?
• What types of thyroid disease can occur when the structure of the thyroid is affected?
• What signs and symptoms can occur if thyroid structure is affected?
• How is the diagnosis of thyroid disease made?
• What is the treatment for thyroid disease?
• What is the outlook for someone with a thyroid disease?
• Thyroid Disease At A Glance
• Patient Discussions: Thyroid Disease - Describe Your Experience
• Thyroid Disease Glossary
• Thyroid Disease Index

What is the outlook for someone with a thyroid disease?

Depending on the disease being treated the outcomes can vary.

• Some thyroid diseases (such as postpartum thyroiditis) can be self-limited.
  
  
• Other diseases can be easily treated with long-term medications (as in Hashimoto's hypothyroidism).
  
  
• If the patient has a compressive goiter, the symptoms of compression can be completely cured with surgery.
  
  
• In thyroid cancer, depending on the type of cancer, the extent of the disease and the underlying health of the patient, the cancer may be completely curable, or may require a prolonged course of treatment with a poor outcome if cancer is widespread.

Thyroid Disease At A Glance

• The thyroid is an organ responsible for the production of thyroid hormones.
  
  
• Thyroid hormones are essential to the regulation of metabolism and other functions of the body.
  
  
• If thyroid hormone levels are not in a normal range, signs and symptoms of thyroid disease may occur.
  
  
• In addition to the function of the gland, thyroid structural abnormalities may occur. Structural abnormalities range from benign to malignant.
  
  
• Depending on the underlying problem, blood tests, imaging, and biopsy may be used to make a diagnosis.
  
  
• Treatment depends on the particular thyroid disease present.

Thyroid Disease - Describe Your Experience

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