Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Cincinnati Children's Blog
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
HOME/How We Do It/Meet Your Thyroid Gland

Meet Your Thyroid Gland

Meet Your Thyroid Gland
January 21, 2015
0 Comments
By: Bessie Ganim

Do you know which gland is located in the lower part of the neck, is shaped like a butterfly, and determines how efficiently the body uses energy in food?

It’s the thyroid gland!

January is National Thyroid Awareness Month, so we are going to take a look at why the thyroid is important to our bodies and some problems that can be associated with it. The thyroid gland takes up iodine and produces a hormone called thyroid hormone (or T4).  The level of the hormone gland in the blood determines how efficiently the body uses the energy in food we eat.

thyroid_blog20150121

Unfortunately, there can be problems associated with the thyroid gland. In infants, the most common thyroid problem is a thyroid gland that cannot produce enough thyroid hormone. If the level of thyroid hormone is too low in an infant, brain development may be affected if the problem is not detected early. Newborn screening tests are required by law, and if there is reason to believe that the thyroid gland is not producing enough thyroid hormone, your child’s doctor may request an ultrasound or nuclear medicine imaging test.  These tests evaluate the thyroid gland to determine its size, the tissue present, and if it’s properly formed.

In older children, adolescents and young adults, thyroid problems include enlargement of the thyroid gland, too much or not enough thyroid hormone in the blood, and nodules (masses or lumps) in the thyroid gland.  Enlargement of the thyroid gland may be associated with increased or decreased levels of thyroid hormone in the blood. Blood is usually taken to check the amount of thyroid hormone and imaging studies are only occasionally required.

For thyroid nodules, imaging is most helpful to locate and determine the size of the thyroid nodule, if the nodule is solid or cystic (filled with fluid), and if the nodule takes up radioactive iodine (given by mouth).  About 20% of thyroid nodules are thyroid cancers.  To rule out cancer, a sample of thyroid tissue is removed with a small needle.

thyroidca_blog20150121

If the thyroid gland is enlarged and the thyroid hormone level in the blood is elevated, the patient is most often treated first with medication. If medication fails, treatment with radioactive iodine is typically used to reduce the production of thyroid hormone and shrink the thyroid gland to normal size. In patients with thyroid cancer, very large doses of radioactive iodine can be used to destroy any thyroid cells that may have spread outside of the thyroid gland.

Even though the thyroid is small, it can have a big effect on your child’s health. If you suspect any problems, discuss your concerns with the pediatrician.

Contributed by Michael J. Gelfand and edited by Bessie Ganim (SPEC TECH-NUC MED).

Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Related Articles

Arlene Schutte named as Radiology Family Recognition Award Winner
Arlene Schutte named as Radiology Family Recognition Award Winner
Happy Memorial Day
Happy Memorial Day
Rich Giordano Comes Back to Radiology to Fill Business Director Position
Rich Giordano Comes Back to Radiology to Fill Business Director Position
Jean Turner Minority Scholarship for Imaging Technology for 2023
Jean Turner Minority Scholarship for Imaging Technology for 2023
TAGS:
  • National Thyroid Awareness Month
  • nuclear medicine
  • produces a hormone called thyroid hormone
  • radiology
  • T4
  • thyroid cancers
  • thyroid gland
  • ultrasound
Avatar photo

About the author: Bessie Ganim

Bessie is a Nuclear Medicine Technologist. She has been an employee of Cincinnati Children's for 10 years and has always wanted a career working with kids. At home she has two energetic children and loves being a mom more than anything. She is passionate about equal rights for the LGBT community.

Write A Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

No Comments Yet

Topics

  • Cancer and Blood Diseases
  • Child Development and Behavior
  • Childhood Obesity
  • Chronic Care Networks
  • Cincinnati Walks for Kids
  • Featured Faces
  • Fetal Conditions
  • Fitness and Nutrition
  • Food Allergies
  • Ghana 2012
  • Health Care Public Policy
  • Health Care Quality
  • Health Care Reform
  • Healthy Living
  • Heart Conditions
  • Hospital Operations
  • How We Do It
  • Learning and Growing
  • Meet The Team
  • Nurses Week 2012
  • Patient Family Experience
  • Patient Flow
  • Patient Safety
  • Patient Stories
  • Pin of the Week
  • Radiology
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Research
  • Research and Discoveries
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Share Your Story
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • Vaccines
  • Volunteerism
  • What Makes Us Different
  • What's New
See All Topics
See Less Topics

Subscribe

Never miss a post! Sign up to get new blog updates delivered to your email.

Popular Posts

  • 6 Questions to Ask When Your Child Complains of Chest Pain 1.6k views
  • Stuttering In Young Kids: When To Be Concerned 779 views
  • 4 Questions to Ask When Your Child Has Recurrent Croup 551 views
  • Laryngomalacia: Is My Child’s Noisy Breathing Serious? 527 views
  • Is it safe for my child with braces to have an MRI? 391 views
  • 5 Reasons to Work with Child Life as an Adult with CHD 359 views
About

The Cincinnati Children’s blog features thoughts and perspectives from our experts on all things pediatric health. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn More »

Contact Us
  • 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026
  • 1-513-636-4200 | 1-800-344-2462
  • TTY: 1-513-636-4900
  • socialmedia@cchmc.org
Connect With Us
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us

© 2009-2022 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center