The thyroid gland plays a key role in the regulation of metabolism, growth and development of the body. The function of the heart, nervous system, as well as the condition of the skin and hair depend on its function. Disorders of the gland can go unnoticed for a long time, so regular examinations are important. One of the most important tests for early diagnosis is a calcitonin test, which allows you to detect medullary thyroid cancer at an early stage.
Other hormonal parameters are also important, helping to assess the function of the gland and the general condition of the body. Timely diagnostics allows you to detect disorders even before the onset of symptoms and choose an effective therapy. Thus, the Eskulab laboratory offers modern methods for analyzing thyroid hormones, which provides accurate results and quick access to them.
Key thyroid hormones and their values
The key thyroid hormones include the following:
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Regulates the functioning of the thyroid gland. Elevated or decreased TSH levels may indicate hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, which affects metabolism and the general condition of the body.
- Thyroxine (T4). The main thyroid hormone that controls metabolic processes. Deviations in its level can affect weight, energy balance, and heart function.
- Triiodothyronine (T3). The active form of the hormone that directly affects the metabolic rate. Low or high levels can cause symptoms of weakness, nervousness, or increased heart rate.
- Calcitonin. It is actively used in the diagnosis of medullary thyroid cancer. Its increased level requires additional examination and monitoring of dynamics. The specifics of its assessment can be found at https://esculab.com/kaltcytonin.
Regular determination of these indicators helps the doctor to make an accurate diagnosis and adjust therapy in time.
What is included in a comprehensive diagnosis?
In addition to hormone tests, doctors also prescribe the following procedures
- ultrasound examination of the gland - allows to assess its size, structure and presence of nodes;
- biopsy of the nodes in case of suspected pathology - provides accurate information about the nature of the cells;
- electrolyte tests - calcium and phosphorus are associated with calcitonin activity;
- scintigraphy of the thyroid gland - helps to determine functional changes in the tissue;
- monitoring of thyroid hormones in the dynamics - allows you to track the effectiveness of treatment and changes in gland function.
Additional studies help to draw up a complete picture and detect pathologies in the early stages in a timely manner.
Олена Болган