Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Hyperthyroidism
Number of Conditions: 3
Graves' Disease
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Thyroid Disorders
Sub-category: Hyperthyroidism
Symptoms:
unintentional weight loss; rapid heartbeat (tachycardia); nervousness or irritability; sweating; tremors; heat intolerance; enlarged thyroid gland (goiter); protruding eyes (exophthalmos); fatigue; muscle weakness
Root Cause:
Autoimmune disorder where the immune system produces antibodies (TSI) that stimulate the thyroid gland to overproduce thyroid hormones.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Based on clinical symptoms, blood tests measuring thyroid hormones (T3, T4), TSH levels, and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI); thyroid uptake scan.
Treatment:
Antithyroid medications, radioactive iodine therapy, or thyroidectomy (surgical removal of the thyroid gland).
Medications:
Antithyroid drugs such as methimazole (thionamide class) or propylthiouracil (PTU). Beta-blockers like propranolol are prescribed to control symptoms like tachycardia and tremors.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 1.2% of the U.S. population, with a higher prevalence in women and individuals aged 20–40 years.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Female gender, family history of autoimmune conditions, stress, smoking, and recent pregnancy.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With proper treatment, symptoms can be well-controlled. Relapses can occur, and permanent solutions like radioactive iodine or surgery may be needed.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Thyroid storm (life-threatening hyperthyroidism crisis), heart problems (atrial fibrillation, heart failure), brittle bones (osteoporosis), and eye problems (Graves’ ophthalmopathy).
Toxic Multinodular Goiter
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Thyroid Disorders
Sub-category: Hyperthyroidism
Symptoms:
enlarged thyroid gland (goiter); palpitations; weight loss; heat intolerance; nervousness; muscle weakness; difficulty breathing or swallowing (due to goiter compression)
Root Cause:
Overactive nodules within the thyroid produce excess thyroid hormones independent of TSH regulation, often due to mutations in TSH receptors.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical symptoms, thyroid function tests (T3, T4, TSH), ultrasound imaging, and radioactive iodine uptake scan.
Treatment:
Antithyroid medications, radioactive iodine therapy, or surgical thyroidectomy (especially in cases with large goiters causing compressive symptoms).
Medications:
Methimazole or propylthiouracil to reduce hormone production; beta-blockers such as atenolol to manage symptoms.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in iodine-deficient regions and typically seen in older adults.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Iodine deficiency, aging, and history of thyroid nodules or goiter.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Symptoms can be managed with treatment. Long-term control often requires definitive therapy such as radioactive iodine or surgery.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Heart arrhythmias, bone loss (osteoporosis), and compressive symptoms (tracheal or esophageal compression).
Toxic Adenoma
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Thyroid Disorders
Sub-category: Hyperthyroidism
Symptoms:
palpitations; weight loss; tremors; heat intolerance; nervousness; enlarged nodule in the neck; mild difficulty swallowing or breathing in large adenomas
Root Cause:
A single, benign thyroid nodule autonomously secretes excessive thyroid hormones due to somatic mutations in TSH receptors.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation, blood tests showing elevated T3 and T4 with suppressed TSH, thyroid ultrasound, and radioactive iodine uptake scan showing focal uptake.
Treatment:
Radioactive iodine therapy to ablate the adenoma or surgical removal of the affected thyroid lobe (lobectomy). Antithyroid drugs may be used temporarily.
Medications:
Methimazole (antithyroid drug) may be used to manage hyperthyroidism symptoms pre-surgery or pre-radioactive iodine therapy. Beta-blockers such as propranolol to control symptoms like tachycardia.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Less common than Graves' Disease; typically occurs in middle-aged adults.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of thyroid nodules, iodine deficiency, and exposure to radiation.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with appropriate treatment. Definitive therapy like surgery or radioactive iodine typically resolves the condition.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Persistent hyperthyroidism, arrhythmias, or compressive symptoms if the adenoma enlarges significantly.