Thyroid Disorders Program

Diagnosis of Thyroid Disorders

During your first visit to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Thyroid Disorders Program, you will be asked to provide a brief medical history and undergo a physical examination to determine the nature of your thyroid condition.

Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism:

These conditions may be associated with a range of symptoms, such as:

• Weight gain or loss
• Fatigue
• Swelling in the neck
• Changes in energy or mood.

If hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism is suspected, a blood test to check your thyroid levels can confirm the diagnosis.

Thyroid nodules

Thyroid nodules are often symptomless and the majority are benign (noncancerous). They can, however, be associated with a bulge in the neck, or difficulty in swallowing and breathing if they are very large or press against vital structures in the neck. Our Thyroid Disorders Program specialists evaluate patients using:

• Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves produce high quality images of the thyroid gland.
• Biopsy: A fine needle is used to collect cells from the thyroid nodule for more accurate evaluation.
• Molecular testing: When the biopsy does not provide a clear diagnosis, analyzing the genes of thyroid nodules may be helpful.

Treatment of Thyroid Disorders

Our expert Thyroid Disorders Program team is highly trained in the latest treatment options to provide advanced, individualized care to patients with thyroid conditions.

Treatment depends on the cause and degree of thyroid dysfunction, and includes thyroid hormone replacement for hypothyroidism, and antithyroid medications, radioactive iodine or surgery for hyperthyroidism.

For patients with large, benign thyroid nodules, which are causing compressive symptoms, we offer thyroid radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Using heat to shrink the nodule, RFA is a technology that provides an effective and less invasive alternative to thyroid nodule surgery for some patients.

Patients with thyroid cancer are treated with surgery and occasionally with radioactive iodine ablation (removal of tissue in the thyroid using radioactive iodine).

All thyroid cancer cases are reviewed by our multidisciplinary team of endocrinologists, surgeons, pathologists and radiologists, to agree on the best treatment plan. After surgery, patients are monitored with blood tests, neck ultrasound, and in some cases with nuclear imaging. This helps to ensure long-term remission and early detection and treatment if the cancer returns.