THYROID DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis of thyroid disease is based on symptoms and physical examination. The results can be confirmed with special blood tests that measure the level of thyroid hormones and the level of specific antibodies that act to stimulate or block the thyroid gland. A special x-ray may also be done to look at the uptake of a contrast agent (a special x-ray dye) into the thyroid gland.

Sometimes an ultrasound scan of the thyroid gland is done to look for nodules or cysts.