Thyroid disease

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located in the front of the neck, just in front of the trachea. The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones, which regulate the body’s use of energy, body temperature, heart rate, and other biological functions. It regulates heart rate and other biological functions. The thyroid gland is affected by a variety of diseases.

Japan’s Strengths in Treatment for Thyroid Disease

Japan has many experts in thyroid diseases, and their experience and skills are highly rated internationally. This allows patients to receive advanced medical care.

Thyroid examinations have increased, especially among children, since the thyroid gland is particularly susceptible to radiation after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in 2011. This has increased experience in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid diseases and raised the standard of examination. Thyroid diseases include the following

・Hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism):

A deficiency of thyroid hormones. Symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, and low body temperature. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy is often used.

・Hyperthyroidism (hyperthyroidism):

A condition in which excessive amounts of thyroid hormones are produced. Symptoms such as weight loss, palpitations, tremors in the hands, excessive sweating, and insomnia may occur. It can be treated by prescribing drugs to suppress thyroid hormone production, using radioactive iodine to destroy thyroid tissue, or surgically removing all or part of the thyroid gland.

・Thyroid nodule:

 A condition in which mass or lump forms within the thyroid gland. Most are benign, but the risk of cancer should be considered.

・Thyroid cancer:

A malignant change in thyroid tissue. Early detection and treatment are often possible. Surgical removal of thyroid tissue and radioiodine therapy are performed.

・Chronic thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s disease):

The immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing inflammation. Treatment involves taking synthetic thyroid hormones to compensate for the hormone deficiency. Japanese physician Hakaru Hashimoto was the first to report on this disease in detail, hence disease was named after his name.

・Graves’ disease:

It is one of the autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland and the main cause of hyperthyroidism.　 They may have characteristic symptoms such as protruding eyeballs. Treatment of hypermetropia is given.

・Goiter:

A condition in which part or the entire thyroid gland is enlarged. It can be caused by iodine deficiency or other factors. If iodine is deficient, iodine supplement is given.