This document provides an overview of the thyroid gland and thyroid disorders. It discusses the location and function of the thyroid gland and the hormones it produces. It then describes different thyroid disorders like hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, thyroiditis, and goiter. It provides details on the causes, symptoms, and treatment of these conditions. It also discusses the epidemiology of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. The document concludes with sections on thyroid disease and pregnancy, Ayurvedic treatment approaches, and diagnostic blood and imaging tests for thyroid conditions.

1. ADITI SIRVAIYA
BAMS 2ND YEAR
BATCH 17-18
PATHOLOGY

2. CONTENT
• Introduction about thyroid
gland
• Thyroid hormones
• Thyroid disease
• Types of thyroid disease
• Epidemiology
• HYPERTHYROIDISM
• HYPOTHYROIDISM
• THYROID NODULES
• THYROID CANCER
• THYROIDITIS
• GOITER
• Diagnosis
• Ayurvedic diagnosis
•

3. THYROIDGLAND
• The thyroid gland is one of
the largest endocrine
glands.
• The thyroid gland is located
immediately below the
larynx and anterior to the
upper part of the trachea.
• It weights about 15-20g.
• It consists of 2 lateral lobes
connected by a narrow
band of thyroid tissue called
the isthmus.
• The isthmus usually
overlies the region from the

4. Thyroid hormones
thyroid

5. • Hypothyroidism(underactive)
• Hyperthyroidism(overactive)
• Thyroiditis (inflammation of thyroid
gland)
• Goiter(enlargement of thyroid gland)
• Thyroid nodule(Lumps within the
thyroid)
• Thyroid cancer (malignant growth in the
thyroid)
Disorders of the thyroid

7. EPIDEMIOLOGY
HYPOTHYROIDISM
• incidence of congenital hypothyroidism worldwide is
1,2500 – 40000 lives births.
•In Malaysia it is reported as 1,3666.
•It is the commonest preventable cause of mental
retardation in children.
Hyperthyroidism
•Study in US (2008) concluded that the incidence among
individuals aged 01-11 years was 0.44 cases per 1000
population.
•The incidence among individuals aged 12-17 years was 0.59
cases per 1000 population .
•Thus, the incidence increases throughout childhood with a
peak incidence in children aged 10-15 years.

8. HYPERTHYROIDISM
Hyperthyroidism, overactive thyroid, cause your thyroid to
make more thyroid hormone than your body needs. This speeds
up many of your body’s functions, like your metabolism and
heart rate.
The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is graves’
disease. Graves’ disease is a problem with the immune
system.
Cause include:
•Stress & lack of rest
•Autoimmune disease
•Hot nodule
•Over dose of thyroid hormone.
•Iodine toxicity(rare)

9. HYPOTHYROIDISM
Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid does not make enough thyroid
hormones . it is also called underactive thyroid . this slow down
many of your body’s function’s, like your metabolism.
The most common cause of hypothyroidism is hashimotos disease. In
people with hashimotos disease, the immune system mistakenly
attacks the thyroid .this attack damages the thyroid so that it does
not make enough hormones.
Hypothyroidism also can be caused by:
poor nutrition
environmental toxins
radiation
hereditary factors
Some prescribed medications eg-lithium
ageing

11. Graves’ disease
graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder that
causes hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid. With this
disease, your immune system attacks the thyroid and
causes it to make more thyroid hormone than your body
needs. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in
the front of your neck. Thyroid hormones control how
your body uses energy, so they affect nearly every organ
in your body—even the way your heart beats.

12. Thyroid nodules (lumps)
Thyroid nodules are lumps that commonly arise within an otherwise normally
thyroid gland. Most commonly ,these abnormal growths of thyroid tissue do not
produce any symptoms whatsoever.
Thyroid nodules are usually found during a routine examination of the neck by a
health care provider , or from x-ray studies obtained for other reasons.
When thyroid nodules do produce symptoms it is either due to their larger size of
their location within the gland. thyroid nodules which are located at the edge of
the thyroid can sometimes be felt as a lump in the throat or even seen as lump in
the neck when they occur in very thin individuals.

13. Thyroid cancer
cancer of the thyroid gland is quite rare and occurs in less than
10% of thyroid nodules.
In most cases, thyroid cancer presents as a painless mass in the
neck.
It is very unusual for thyroid cancers to present with symptoms,
unless they have been neglected.
One may be able to feel a hard nodule in the neck.
Surgery, radiation and hormone treatments may be used to treat
thyroid cancer.

14. Risk factors for thyroid cancer include:
• About three times as many women get thyroid
cancer as men. The number of women with thyroid
cancer is also going up. By 2020, the number of
women with thyroid cancer is expected to double,
from 34,000 women to more than 70,000 women.
• Thyroid cancer is more common in women who:
1. Are between the ages of 25 and 65
2. Had radiation therapy to the head or neck,
especially in childhood, to treat cancer
3.Have a history of goiter
4. Have a family history of thyroid cancer

15. Thyroiditis
Thyroiditis is inflammation of thyroid. It happens when the body’s
immune system makes antibodies that attack the thyroid.
Causes of thyroiditis include:
#autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
#genetics.
#viral or bacterial infection.
#certain types of medicines.
Two common types of thyroiditis are hashimotos disease and
postpartum thyroiditis.
#postpartum thyroiditis ,or inflammation of the thyroid after giving
birth , affects 10%of women. It often goes undiagnosed because
symptoms are much like the “baby blues ” that may follow delivery.
Women with postpartum thyroiditis may feel very tired and moody.

16. Postpartum thyroiditis typically happens in two phases
,though not everyone with the condition goes through both
phases.
• The first phase starts 1 to 4 months after giving birth and typically last 1 to 2
months. In this phase ,you may have signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism
because of damaged thyroid leaks thyroid hormones out into the bloodstream.
•The second phase starts about 4to8 months after delivery and last 6 to 12
months. in this phase, you may have signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism
because the thyroid has lost most of its hormones or because the immune attack
is over and the thyroid may recover later.
Your immune system may cause postpartum thyroiditis. If you have an
autoimmune disease , like type 1 diabetes, your risk is higher
Your risk is also higher if
Have personal history or family history of thyroid disorders.
Has postpartum thyroiditis after a previous pregnancy.
Have chronic viral hepatitis.

17. Goiter = enlarged thyroid
Causes include:
•iodine deficiency
•Selenium deficiency
•Auto – immune inflammation
•Nodules within the thyroid
•Tumors-benign & malignant
•Physiological – during pregnancy & puberty
•Goiters can compress the trachea or esophagus causing difficulty
breathing or swallowing.

18. thyroid disease affect pregnancy
• Pregnancy-related hormones raise the level of thyroid hormones in the blood.
Thyroid hormones are necessary for the baby's brain development while in the
womb.
• It can be harder to diagnose thyroid problems during pregnancy because of the
change in hormone levels that normally happen during pregnancy. But it is
especially important to check for problems before getting pregnant and during
pregnancy. Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can cause problems
for both mother and baby.
• Hyperthyroidism that is not treated with medicine during pregnancy can cause:4
• Premature birth (birth of the baby before 39 to 40 weeks, or full-term)
• Preeclampsia, a serious condition starting after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Preeclampsia causes high blood pressure and problems with the kidneys and other
organs. The only cure for preeclampsia is childbirth.
• Thyroid storm (sudden, severe worsening of symptoms)
• Fast heart rate in the newborn, which can lead to heart failure, poor weight gain, or
an enlarged thyroid that can make it hard to breathe
• Low birth weight (smaller than 5 pounds)
• Miscarriage

19. • Hypothyroidism that is not treated with medicine
during pregnancy can cause:
• Anemia (lower than normal number of healthy
red blood cells)
• Preeclampsia
• Low birth weight (smaller than 5 pounds)
• Miscarriage
• Stillbirth
• Problems with the baby's growth and brain
development
Continued:

20. Ayurvedic Treatment for Thyroid
• Diet and Other Regimen:
According to Charaka, goitre does not strike
those who take milk in adequate quantities. In
addition, old rice, barley, moong dal, Bengal
gram, cucumber, sugar juice, and milk products
are recommended for a goitre patient. Sour and
heavy substances are contraindicated.
• Herbs for Thyroid:
kanchanara - Bauhinia veriegata (purple
mountain ebony) is specific for proper
functioning of thyroid. Among the other herbs
jatamansi , Brahmi, guggulu and shilajita are

21. Blood test for thyroid function
•Thyroid stimulating
hormone(TSH)
•Free T3
•Free T4
•Reverse T3
• Thyroid antibody
levels

22. Other thyroid tests
•Urinary spot iodine test
•Basal body temperature
•Ultrasound of thyroid
•Nuclear scan of thyroid
•Needle biopsy of nodule

26. Thank You for watching