1. Hyperthyroidism Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Thyroid Disorder Quiz
3. Thyroid Symptoms and Solutions Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Ruchi Mathur, MD, FRCP(C)

Ruchi Mathur, MD, FRCP(C)

Ruchi Mathur, MD, FRCP(C) is an Attending Physician with the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and Associate Director of Clinical Research, Recruitment and Phenotyping with the Center for Androgen Related Disorders, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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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
• Thyroid FAQs
• Patient Comments: Thyroid Disease - Describe Your Experience
• Patient Comments: Thyroid Disease - Treatment
• Patient Comments: Thyroid Disease - Symptoms and Signs
• Find a local Endocrinologist in your town
• Thyroid Disease Index

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.

• 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.