Tests & Treatments for Thyroid Disease at University of Colorado Hospital

Common Tests for Thyroid Disease

Blood Tests

Checks your hormone levels for imbalances.

Thyroid Scan

A dye is injected and a scan gives your doctor a picture of your thyroid and helps determine the type of hyperthyroidism you have.

Common Treatments for Thyroid Disease

Medication

If you have hyperthyroidism, your doctor will prescribe medication to reduce your hormone levels and in some cases will prevent your immune system from working against your thyroid.

Radioactive Iodine

If you have hyperthyroidism, this treatment uses a form of radiation to limit your thyroid’s ability to produce hormones. It may be used as an initial treatment or if medication fails.

Surgery

If you have severe hyperthyroidism that has not responded to medication or do not want to use radioactive iodine, your thyroid can be removed.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

If you have hypothyroidism, your doctor will prescribe you hormones to replace the hormones your thyroid is not producing.