Nuclear medicine
Nuclear medical diagnostics and therapy as well as thyroid gland consultation
In nuclear medicine, we diagnose and treat diseases by using radioactive substances. Normally, these are applied intravenously and accumulate within the organs we want to examine and cure. Nuclear medical diagnostics can supplement radiological examinations (MRI, CT) or even replace them.
Examination and therapy procedures with radioactive substances take place working closely together with the nuclear medical department of the university hospital of Bonn and different specialized practices. The treatment with radioactive drugs is carried out at the therapy ward of the university hospital of Bonn, complying with specific radiation protection conditions. Benign and malignant diseases of the thyroid gland and neuroendocrine tumors, e.g., are treated with radioiodine. We would be glad to plan and arrange your nuclear medical diagnostics and therapy.
Thyroid gland consultation
At Beta Klinik, we specialize in the non-invasive diagnostics and therapy of thyroid diseases: special thyroid laboratory and ultrasound examinations. We use drugs or hormones to treat a goiter or hyperthyriodism (overactive thyroid) or hypothyriodism (underproduction of thyroid hormones).
Diagnostic services at Beta Klinik
- clinical and specialist examinations
- complete special thyroid laboratory diagnostics (fT3, fT4, TSH, thyroid antibodies, tumor markers)
- ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland
- duplex sonography (examination of the blood flow of the thyroid gland and detection of potential thyroid nodules)
Treatment at Beta Klinik
- drug/hormone therapy
- thyroid diseases (goiter and others)
- hyperthyriodism (overactive thyroid) and hypothyriodism (underproduction of thyroid hormones)
Nuclear medical services
- planning and arrangement of nuclear medical examinations and therapy in close cooperation with the university hospital of Bonn and different specialized practices
Diseases nuclear medicine
At Beta Klinik, we focus on diagnostics and treatment of thyroid diseases.
Thyroid diseases
Thyroid diseases include nodular changes as well dysfunctions like hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). The diffuse goiter, also called struma, can also be accompanied by nodular changes.
Symptoms thyroid diseases
Thyroid diseases can have several different symptoms, depending on the kind of thyroid disease.
Often, patients suffer from a goiter (struma) with difficulties in swallowing and a tight feeling in the throat.
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) can be associated with tiredness, weight gain, hair loss, constipation and depressive mood.
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) can come along with weight loss, hair loss, increased perspiration, nervousness, diarrhea and restlessness.
Causes thyroid diseases
Subject to the kind of thyroid disease, there are different causes.
Goiter (struma) can be caused by iodine deficiency or hormonal changes.
The most frequent cause of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) is Hashimoto´s thyroiditis. It is an autoimmune disease that is brought about by a malfunction of the immune defense. But often the cause of hyperthyroidism cannot be clarified.
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) can often be traced back to changes of the immune system. In case of Grave´s disease, the malfunctioning immune defense produces antibodies against certain thyroid receptors that facilitate the hormone production. Another cause is autonomous adenomas (benign tumors) or a diffuse anatomy of the thyroid gland. Here, the root of evil can be iodine deficiency that is overcompensated by the body, which happens more often in case of goiters that have been present for a long time.
Diagnostics thyroid diseases
Firstly, a clinical examination including manually checking the throat and soft tissue of the throat (lymph nodes) is carried out in case of presumptive thyroid diseases.
Thyroid ultrasound can help measure the size, structure and shape of the thyroid gland as well as detect nodules. A further examination of the thyroid nodules is done with scintigraphy, a medical imaging procedure of nuclear medicine that works with radioactive contrast agents. Overactive (“hot”) nodules are signs of a distinct hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), whereas inactive (“cold”) nodules represent defect parts of the thyroid gland. Given cold nodules of 1 cm (0.4 in) or larger, a tissue sample should be taken and send to a laboratory for further examination.
The results of a blood test can show if a patient suffers from hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).
Every examination of the thyroid gland requires a blood test, measuring the concentration of thyroid hormones T4, T3 and TSH. T3 and T4 are connected to THS. When suffering from an overactive thyroid, TSH is suppressed but is elevated in case of an underactive thyroid. In addition to those parameters, the concentration of thyroid antibodies is assessed in order to evaluate the presence of Grave´s disease. Given suspicious nodules, the blood is also tested for two specific tumor markers (thyroglobulin, calcitonin).
Treatment thyroid diseases
The kind of treatment depends on the kind of thyroid disease.
A goiter (struma) can be treated with thyroid hormone medication (levothyroxine/L-thyroxine).
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) does also require the application of thyroid hormones.
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) can be treated in three ways: antithyroid drugs (thyrostatics), radioiodine or surgery. Every therapy method has to be discussed in detail before adhering to one.
Given potentially cancerous nodes, surgery is indicated to make an accurate diagnosis.
