Volksstimme telephone forum
Expert telephone forum on 13 August 2024 on the topic: ‘The diseased thyroid gland’
On 13 August 2024, Volksstimme cordially invites you to the expert telephone forum to ask your questions on the topic of ‘the diseased thyroid gland’. Prof Dr Michael Kreißl is Head of Nuclear Medicine at Magdeburg University Hospital, spokesperson for the Thyroid Section of the German Society of Endocrinology and Chairman of the Thyroid Committee of the German Society of Nuclear Medicine. He is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases and thyroid carcinoma. Dr Kirsten Reschke from the University Clinic for Renal and Hypertensive Diseases, Diabetology and Endocrinology Magdeburg will also be available to answer your questions. The experts are available from 10:00 to 12:00 at the Volksstimme under the telephone number: (0391) 532970.
Photo: Dr Kirsten Reschke & Prof. Dr Michael Kreißl. Photo: UMMD
The thyroid gland is a small organ with a big impact. It performs vital tasks and controls almost all functions in the body. The thyroid hormones influence metabolism, circulation, growth and the psyche. As the thyroid gland is very sensitive, its hormone production can quickly get out of sync. Those affected often have many questions that can be answered by experts. The aim of the expert telephone forum is to inform sufferers and interested parties about the latest developments in this specialised field and about new treatment options.
Around one in three adults in Germany develops a thyroid disorder in the course of their lives. For hormonal reasons, around 80 of those affected are women. If their thyroid gland is too active, they suffer from hyperthyroidism; if, on the other hand, the organ is too sluggish, they have hypothyroidism. The two important hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) are produced in the thyroid gland like in a small chemical factory.
For diagnosis, the TSH value is determined by means of a blood test and the neck is palpated. TSH, a messenger substance from the brain, regulates the thyroid gland. A low TSH value indicates hyperthyroidism, while a high TSH value indicates hypothyroidism. If a malfunction is suspected, ultrasound and scintigraphy are carried out. Typical symptoms of hyperfunction are increased sweating, higher blood pressure, concentration and sleep disorders as well as weight loss. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system stimulates the thyroid gland to produce more hormones.
Over the course of a lifetime, so-called ‘hot nodules’ can develop in the thyroid gland. These nodules are almost always benign, but often lead to an overproduction of thyroid hormones. One in three Germans will develop thyroid nodules in the course of their lives. In some cases, treatment with medication can help to initially restore normal thyroid function. Standard treatments also include gentle radio-iodine therapy. Surgical interventions are also a standard treatment, especially if a malignant change cannot be ruled out, in which case at least the affected thyroid lobe is usually removed. In special cases, the nodules can be destroyed using radiofrequency ablation, in which a thick needle is inserted into the nodule and destroyed by heat. Magdeburg University Hospital is the only location in Saxony-Anhalt where all of the above-mentioned treatment methods are available, so that the right choice can be made for each individual case.
The experts will be happy to provide information about other thyroid diseases and the latest treatment options.