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Medical testing
Pathology testing
The main thyroid blood tests your doctor may order for you are:
- TSH – Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
- T4 – Thyroxine Level
- T3 – Tertroxine Level
- Anti TGO – Anti Thyroglobulin*
- Anti TPO – Anti Microsomal*
*Thyroid Antibody Testing – The main diagnosis of Hashimoto's and Graves' disease.
Fine needle biopsy
Fine needle biopsy is usually done with the aid of ultrasound by a specialist doctor. A very fine needle is inserted into the thyroid gland to extract tissue from a nodule/s. This tissue is sent to a pathologist for testing – this test is used in the diagnosis of nodules and tissue change.
Ultrasound
A thyroid ultrasound is performed by a specialist ultrasonographer or qualified Endocrinologist. It is unobtrusive and is used to show the size, shape and texture of the thyroid gland as well as detecting and defining nodules and cysts within the thyroid.
Radionuclide CT scan
A small injection of a harmless radioactive Isotope is injected into your arm before this test is performed. The scan will show how fast your thyroid gland takes up the isotope and provides a measure of how your thyroid takes up iodine and how well the gland is functioning.