Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsClinical EvaluationBlood TestsImaging TestsBiopsiesOther Tests and ProceduresThyroid Neck CheckFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Thyroid Disease GuideAn Overview of Thyroid Disease Treatments
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Clinical Evaluation
Blood Tests
Imaging Tests
Biopsies
Other Tests and Procedures
Thyroid Neck Check
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Thyroid Disease Guide
Getting a diagnosis of thyroid disease is a process that incorporates a number of different types of examinations, including clinical evaluation, blood tests, imaging tests, biopsies, and other tests. Let’s take a look at the various components of the thyroid diagnosis process.
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As part of a thorough clinical evaluation, your healthcare provider typically will perform the following assessments:
Blood tests that measure thyroid hormone levels are not a standard part of a routine physical, but they can be ordered if you have any symptoms, signs, or risk factors of thyroid disease.
Before you have blood tests done, you will want to understand your options in terms of the timing of testing, and whether to fast and/or take medications prior to testing.
Common thyroid blood tests include the following:
These tests can measure thyroid hormones in their different forms, as well as proteins that can increase or decrease your thyroid hormone production. Your healthcare provider will look at the combination of results to determine the type and cause of your thyroid condition.
Thyroid Blood Tests: Types and What Results Mean
Interpreting Your Results
The pattern of the thyroid blood test results helps your healthcare provider understand your thyroid disease.
Examples of test results and their significance in thyroid disease:
Your healthcare team can help you understand what your results mean in relation to your unique situation.
The TSH Test
The thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test is considered an important thyroid test. If your thyroid hormones are low, sometimes TSH can be elevated as your body attempts to compensate. And sometimes TSH is low if your thyroid hormones are too high.
For example:
However, sometimes thyroid disease can be complicated, so the results aren’t always so straightforward.
TSH Levels Test: What Do High and Low Levels Mean?
Ordering Your Own Thyroid Blood Tests
In most states in the U.S., and some areas outside the U.S., you can order and pay for your own thyroid tests. Some people use this approach to get testing done.
It may be more affordable to have your tests done through your healthcare provider, however. Sometimes, your insurance plan may limit the tests they will pay for.
Imaging tests can be used to identify thyroid enlargement, atrophy, ornodules.
These tests include the following.
Biopsy
A needlebiopsy, also known as a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, is used to help evaluate suspicious thyroid lumps and nodules.During a needle biopsy, a thin needle is inserted directly into the nodule, and cells are withdrawn and evaluated in a laboratory for signs of cancer. Some healthcare providers use ultrasound while conducting a biopsy to guide the needle position.
While 95% of thyroid nodules are not cancerous, FNA, along with some additional tests such as the Veracyte Afirma test, can make the results of your biopsy more accurate and may spare you unnecessary surgery for nodules that turn out to be benign.
Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Biopsy of the Thyroid
Other Diagnostic Tests
Healthcare providers sometimes use other tests and procedures to identify thyroid dysfunction. The use of these tests is considered controversial to mainstream practitioners, but some of these tests are accepted and in use among alternative, integrative, and holistic physicians.
These tests include:
The reliability and value of these tests have not been established. If your healthcare provider recommends a specific type of test, they should help you understand what information it will provide them and how you can best prepare for it.
Neck Check Self-Test
While it is not considered diagnostic, you can perform a self-check of your neck to look for lumps and enlargement.
In general, a neck check is not considered to be reliable or accurate compared to other available testing methods. It may provide a false negative—you can have thyroid disease even if your neck feels completely normal. However, a self-check doesn’t hurt to do and is simple and straightforward.
With your fingers, you’ll gently feel for lumps in your neck as you swallow a sip of water.
How to Perform a Thyroid Neck Check
A Word From Verywell
Based on the results of a clinical examination, blood tests can detect key signs of thyroid conditions, including hypothyroidism (insufficient thyroid hormone) and hyperthyroidism (excess thyroid hormone). For nodules and goiter, imaging tests can help to identify whether nodules could be cancerous. An FNA biopsy is performed to obtain a tissue sample that can be assessed with a microscope for cancer cells. With this combination of tests, a healthcare provider can make an accurate diagnosis and provide you with treatment.
Frequently Asked QuestionsFasting for several hours before your thyroid function blood test may be necessary.Make sure you tell your doctor about any supplements that you’re taking. Some (such as Biotin) should be stopped a few days before the blood test.No, saliva tests cannot be used to test thyroid hormone levels.No, it shouldn’t be. A fine needle is inserted through the neck and into the thyroid to take a sample. The needle is very small and there should be little pain during or after the procedure. Your healthcare provider may use a localanestheticto numb the area before inserting the needle.Pain medicationcan be used afterward to relieve mild discomfort.
Fasting for several hours before your thyroid function blood test may be necessary.Make sure you tell your doctor about any supplements that you’re taking. Some (such as Biotin) should be stopped a few days before the blood test.
No, saliva tests cannot be used to test thyroid hormone levels.
No, it shouldn’t be. A fine needle is inserted through the neck and into the thyroid to take a sample. The needle is very small and there should be little pain during or after the procedure. Your healthcare provider may use a localanestheticto numb the area before inserting the needle.Pain medicationcan be used afterward to relieve mild discomfort.
An Overview of Thyroid Disease Treatments
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Thyroid Disease. Cleveland Clinic.What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism?American Thyroid Association.Thyroid Function TestsAmerican Thyroid Association.Hyperthyroidism FAQsNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Thyroid TestsAmerican Cancer Society.Tests for Thyroid CancerThyroid Awareness.Neck CheckMedlinePlus.TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) test.Sachan A, Naresh S, Bitla AR.Utility of saliva for measurement of thyroid hormones.Indian journal of Medical Biochemistry. 2018;22(1):36-40. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10054-0051Johns Hopkins Medicine.Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy.Additional ReadingTakano T, Hasegawa Y, Amino N.Self-examination of thyroid nodules. Endocr J.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Thyroid Diseases.MedLine Plus.Bethesda, Maryland; OMB Control Number: 0925-0648.Walsh JP.Managing thyroid disease in general practice.Med J Aust.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Thyroid Disease. Cleveland Clinic.What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism?American Thyroid Association.Thyroid Function TestsAmerican Thyroid Association.Hyperthyroidism FAQsNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Thyroid TestsAmerican Cancer Society.Tests for Thyroid CancerThyroid Awareness.Neck CheckMedlinePlus.TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) test.Sachan A, Naresh S, Bitla AR.Utility of saliva for measurement of thyroid hormones.Indian journal of Medical Biochemistry. 2018;22(1):36-40. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10054-0051Johns Hopkins Medicine.Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy.Additional ReadingTakano T, Hasegawa Y, Amino N.Self-examination of thyroid nodules. Endocr J.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Thyroid Diseases.MedLine Plus.Bethesda, Maryland; OMB Control Number: 0925-0648.Walsh JP.Managing thyroid disease in general practice.Med J Aust.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Thyroid Disease. Cleveland Clinic.What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism?American Thyroid Association.Thyroid Function TestsAmerican Thyroid Association.Hyperthyroidism FAQsNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Thyroid TestsAmerican Cancer Society.Tests for Thyroid CancerThyroid Awareness.Neck CheckMedlinePlus.TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) test.Sachan A, Naresh S, Bitla AR.Utility of saliva for measurement of thyroid hormones.Indian journal of Medical Biochemistry. 2018;22(1):36-40. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10054-0051Johns Hopkins Medicine.Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy.
Thyroid Disease. Cleveland Clinic.What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism?
American Thyroid Association.Thyroid Function Tests
American Thyroid Association.Hyperthyroidism FAQs
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Thyroid Tests
American Cancer Society.Tests for Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid Awareness.Neck Check
MedlinePlus.TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) test.
Sachan A, Naresh S, Bitla AR.Utility of saliva for measurement of thyroid hormones.Indian journal of Medical Biochemistry. 2018;22(1):36-40. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10054-0051
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy.
Takano T, Hasegawa Y, Amino N.Self-examination of thyroid nodules. Endocr J.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Thyroid Diseases.MedLine Plus.Bethesda, Maryland; OMB Control Number: 0925-0648.Walsh JP.Managing thyroid disease in general practice.Med J Aust.
Takano T, Hasegawa Y, Amino N.Self-examination of thyroid nodules. Endocr J.
U.S. National Library of Medicine.Thyroid Diseases.MedLine Plus.Bethesda, Maryland; OMB Control Number: 0925-0648.
Walsh JP.Managing thyroid disease in general practice.Med J Aust.
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