The thyroid gland plays an important role in regulating metabolism.

Disorders of thyroid gland function may be autoimmune in nature and include:

• Hypothyroidism (underactive), commonly due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

• Hyperthyroidism (overactive), often associated with Graves’ disease

Thyroiditis refers to inflammation of the thyroid, which can be due to a number of causes such as:

• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (autoimmune)

• Subacute thyroiditis (often triggered by a viral infection)

• Postpartum thyroiditis (usually occurring in the first 12 months after childbirth).

Thyroid nodules are growths within the gland that require further evaluation. An ultrasound is a useful tool to characterise the nodules, assisting in identifying if they are benign, require regular monitoring or a biopsy.

Thyroid cancer is a cancer of the thyroid gland. There are different types of thyroid cancer that have varying severity and aggressiveness, and therefore require different management options and monitoring.