Diagnosis, Treatment and Comprehensive Thyroid Care

Published: 18.04.2025 · Last Updated: 05.08.2026 · Prepared by the Academic Hospital Web and Editorial Board.

The Academic Hospital Thyroid Diseases and Treatment Unit diagnoses all diseases affecting the thyroid gland and carries out long term follow up with personalised treatment plans. Run in collaboration with endocrinology, radiology and endocrine surgery, the unit covers a broad spectrum ranging from functional disorders such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism to thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. Accompanying metabolic diseases are assessed jointly with the internal medicine department for coordinated management.

Contents

What Is the Thyroid Diseases and Treatment Unit?
Which Diseases and Conditions Are Treated?
When Should You Consult Us?
Diagnostic Methods
Treatment Approaches
Thyroid Diseases and Treatment at Academic Hospital
Frequently Asked Questions
References

What Is the Thyroid Diseases and Treatment Unit?

The Thyroid Diseases Unit is a subspecialty unit of endocrinology that assesses hormone imbalances, structural disorders and tumours of the butterfly shaped thyroid gland in the neck. Thyroid hormones affect almost every system in the body, above all metabolism, heart rhythm, bone density and reproductive health; thyroid diseases therefore present with a wide and varied range of symptoms.

Which Diseases and Conditions Are Treated?

The unit assesses and treats the full range of functional, structural and tumoural diseases of the thyroid gland.

Hypothyroidism (insufficient thyroid hormone production)
Hyperthyroidism (excessive thyroid hormone production)
Hashimoto thyroiditis (autoimmune hypothyroidism)
Graves disease (autoimmune hyperthyroidism)
Goitre (enlargement of the thyroid gland; nodular or diffuse)
Thyroid nodules (benign or suspicious masses)
Subacute thyroiditis (De Quervain thyroiditis)
Pregnancy related thyroid diseases (gestational thyroiditis, postpartum thyroiditis)
Thyroid cancer (papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic thyroid cancer)
Dose monitoring and management of thyroid hormone medication

When Should You Consult Us?

The following symptoms and situations call for a consultation with the Thyroid Diseases Unit.

Swelling, firmness or asymmetry felt or seen in the neck
Fatigue, feeling cold, weight gain and constipation (symptoms of hypothyroidism)
Palpitations, irritability, hand tremor, excessive sweating and weight loss (symptoms of hyperthyroidism)
Hoarseness or difficulty swallowing
Marked swelling or outward protrusion of the eyes (exophthalmos)
Irregular menstrual cycles or difficulty conceiving
Depression, memory difficulties or impaired concentration
A TSH value found to be outside the normal range in a routine blood test
A request for periodic screening by first degree relatives of people with thyroid disease

Urgent consultation: Difficulty breathing together with neck swelling, fever and sudden neck pain (suspected thyroid abscess or acute thyroiditis) are situations that require urgent assessment. Please also go to the emergency department if you have symptoms of thyrotoxic crisis.

Diagnostic Methods

In thyroid diseases the diagnosis is established through a systematic process covering hormone measurements, autoimmune markers, imaging and, where necessary, biopsy.

Method	Scope and use
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) test	The primary method for screening for thyroid dysfunction; a low TSH points to hyperthyroidism and a high TSH to hypothyroidism.
Free T3 and T4 measurement	Shows thyroid hormone levels directly alongside TSH; used to confirm the diagnosis and assess the severity of the disease.
Anti-TPO and Anti-TG antibodies	Used in the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto thyroiditis and Graves disease.
TSH receptor antibody (TRAb)	Measured to diagnose Graves disease and to monitor the response to treatment.
Thyroid ultrasound	Allows detailed assessment of the gland in terms of size, structure and nodules; it is the primary imaging method for detecting suspicious nodules.
Fine needle aspiration biopsy	A cell sample is taken from suspicious nodules to distinguish benign from malignant; it is the gold standard diagnostic method.
Thyroid scintigraphy	Assesses the functional status of the nodule (cold, hot or warm) and, in cases of hyperthyroidism, suitability for radioactive iodine therapy.
Calcitonin level	Measured in screening for medullary thyroid cancer.

Treatment Approaches

Treatment in thyroid diseases is individualised among medical, radionuclide and surgical options according to the type and severity of the disease and the patient's general condition.

Treatment	Scope and application
Levothyroxine (LT4) therapy	The standard treatment that replaces the missing hormone in hypothyroidism; the dose is individualised according to the TSH target and reviewed at regular intervals.
Antithyroid medication (methimazole, propylthiouracil)	Used to suppress thyroid hormone synthesis in hyperthyroidism and Graves disease; once remission has been assessed, the medication may be stopped or definitive treatment may be started.
Radioactive iodine (I-131) therapy	Applied in hyperthyroidism and in some thyroid cancer cases to destroy thyroid tissue selectively; it is planned in coordination with endocrine surgery.
Surgery (thyroidectomy)	Performed together with the endocrine surgery team in cases of large goitre, suspicious or malignant nodules, hyperthyroidism that cannot be controlled with medication, or thyroid cancer.
Nodule follow up	Active surveillance with ultrasound every 6 to 12 months in benign nodules; a repeat fine needle aspiration biopsy is planned if the nodule grows or its features change.
Thyroid management in pregnancy	TSH targets are set by trimester throughout pregnancy; the levothyroxine dose is usually increased and close follow up is maintained.

Book an appointment with the Academic Hospital Thyroid Diseases and Treatment Unit.

Book an Appointment

Thyroid Diseases and Treatment at Academic Hospital

The Academic Hospital Thyroid Diseases and Treatment Unit carries out outpatient assessment, hormone testing, thyroid ultrasound, fine needle aspiration biopsy and treatment follow up under one roof. The unit works routinely with the following departments:

Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases: assessment of hormone imbalances and definition of the treatment plan
Endocrine Surgery: referral of goitre, nodule and thyroid cancer cases requiring a thyroidectomy decision
Radiology: thyroid ultrasound and fine needle aspiration biopsy under imaging guidance
Internal Medicine: coordinated management of accompanying metabolic diseases
Pathology: cytopathological and histopathological assessment of biopsy and surgical materials
Gynecology and Obstetrics: joint follow up in gestational and postpartum thyroiditis
Ear, Nose and Throat: assessment of hoarseness and difficulty swallowing

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions most frequently asked about the Thyroid Diseases and Treatment Unit are given below.

Is thyroid medication needed for life?

In hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto thyroiditis the damage to the gland is permanent, so levothyroxine is generally used indefinitely. In conditions such as transient thyroiditis, however, the medication may be stopped after a certain period. This decision is made by the physician on the basis of TSH monitoring; changing the dose or stopping the medication on your own is not recommended.

Does a thyroid nodule always mean cancer?

No. Between 90 and 95 per cent of thyroid nodules are benign. The risk of cancer is assessed according to the ultrasound appearance and size of the nodule and the clinical features. In nodules with suspicious features a definitive diagnosis is made with fine needle aspiration biopsy. Small nodules that appear benign are monitored with regular ultrasound follow up.

Is thyroid disease hereditary?

Autoimmune thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto thyroiditis and Graves disease tend to run in families. People with thyroid disease in a first degree relative are advised to have periodic TSH testing. Some cases of medullary thyroid cancer are linked to a genetic mutation and may require family screening.

Can thyroid cancer be treated?

Papillary thyroid cancer, the most common type of thyroid cancer, is treated with a high success rate using surgery and, where necessary, radioactive iodine therapy. When diagnosed early, the 10 year survival rate is above 95 per cent. Medullary and anaplastic thyroid cancers follow a more complex course, which is why early diagnosis is critically important.

What should a thyroid patient eat?

Patients with hypothyroidism are advised to consume a balanced diet containing iodine, selenium and zinc. Levothyroxine should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach, and food should be eaten at least 30 to 60 minutes after the medication. Calcium, iron and other supplements should be taken at least 4 hours after the medication. Supplements with excessive iodine content, and soy based or cabbage based dietary programmes taken without consulting a physician, should be avoided.

Appointment and Information

444 0 353

Weekdays 08:00-18:00

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References

The general information given on this page about the diagnosis of thyroid diseases, the treatment options and the follow up process is supported by the reliable health sources listed below.

National Institutes of Health, "Hypothyroidism: Overview and Management (StatPearls)", ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
National Institutes of Health, "Thyroid Nodule Evaluation Guidelines", ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
World Health Organization, "Iodine Deficiency (Nutrition Landscape Information System)", who.int
American Thyroid Association, "ATA Professional Guidelines", thyroid.org

The information on this page is for informational purposes only; it does not replace medical examination, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a healthcare institution regarding your complaints.