How Is Graves’s Disease Diagnosed?

Graves’ disease diagnosed

Doctors can sometimes diagnose Graves’ disease based only on a physical examination and a medical history.  Laboratory test confirm the diagnosis.

The ultrasensitive TSH test is usually the first test a doctor performs.  This test detects even tiny amounts of TSH in the blood and is the most accurate measure of thyroid activity available.  Another blood test used to diagnose Graves’ disease measures T3 and T4.  In making a diagnosis, doctors look for below normal levels of TSH, normal to elevated levels of T4, and elevated levels of T3.

Because the combination of low TSH and high T3 and T4 can occur with other thyroid problems, doctors may order other test to finalize the diagnosis.  Two of these test are based on the fact that the thyroid gland uses iodine to make thyroid hormone.  Both test use small, safe doses of radioactive iodine.

• The radioactive iodine uptake test measures the amount of iodine the thyroid collects from the bloodstream.  High levels of iodine uptake can indicate Graves’ disease.

• A thyroid scan shows how and where iodine is distributed in the thyroid.  In Graves’ disease, the entire thyroid gland is involved so the iodine shows up throughout the gland.  Other causes of hyperthyroidism such as nodules-small lumps in the gland-will show a different pattern of iodine distribution.

Doctors may also consider the thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin test, although this test usually isn’t necessary to diagnose Graves’ disease.  This test, also called a TSH antibody test, measures the level of TSI in the blood.  Most people with Graves’ disease have this antibody, but people whose hyperthyroidism is caused by other conditions do not.

• January 12, 2009 -- What are the symptoms of Grave’s disease?
  People with Graves' disease may have some of the common symptoms of  hyperthyroidism such as: nervousness or irritability fatigue or muscle weakness heat intolerance trouble sleeping hand tremors rapid and irregular heartbeat frequent bowel movements or diarrhea weight loss goiter, which is an enlarged thyroid that may cause the neck to look swollen In addition, the eyes of ...
• February 3, 2010 -- How Is Graves’ Disease Treated?
  Graves' disease treatment options from the medical community Doctors prescribe one or more of the three treatment options:  radioiodine therapy, antithyroid drugs, or thyroid surgery.  Radioiodine therapy is the most commonly used treatment for Graves' disease in the United States. Radioiodine Therapy In radioiodine therapy, the patient takes radioactive iodine-131 by mouth.  Because the ...