Thyroid is one of the largest and important glands of the body. It belongs to the endocrine system and its activity is regulated by the hypothalamus and pituitary influence. Thyroid controls metabolic processes, protein synthesis and overall sensitivity of the organism to the action of other hormones. It is located in the anterior cervical lodge, lower thyroid cartilage ("Adam's apple 'as he called on men) and secretes several hormones, mainly thyroxin, triiodothyronine and calcitonin (hormone important in calcium homeostasis).



Thyroid hormone secretion and influences exerted by the hypothalamus and pituitary are very complex processes, and any modification of the main factors involved in installing these leads to imbalance in the synthesis and secretion, which translates into clinical appearance of specific diseases such glands or Plummer disease.  By who produces hormones, thyroid affects many metabolic processes in the body. Thyroid disease is diverse and can range from anatomical changes of size, operating to major imbalances, which passed on the entire body, and even cancer. The most common thyroid problem is related to inadequate secretion of hormones, excess or less.

Synthesis and secretion of excessive amounts of hormones situation called hyperthyroidism and the reverse situation, characterized by deficient hormones hypothyroidism. Although Plummer disease evidence are very upset and alert the patient, thyroid pathology, the most they can be treated and controlled so that the patient's life to take place normally, and its quality is not affected.



-Hyperthyroidism is a condition caused by excessive secretion of thyroid hormones and may occur within several diseases, including:

- Graves Plummer disease evidence: the nature of autoimmune disease characterized by excess production of too much thyroid hormone. Is accompanied by macroscopic changes of the thyroid, thyroid goiter appearing. The most common symptoms are tachycardia, muscle weakness, sleep disturbance and irritability;

- Thyroid adenomas: is the nodules that occur in the parenchyma of thyroid gland and are able to secrete hormones which will influence internal homeostasis of the body, creating hormonal imbalances. Some goiter thyroid contain even more such nodules;

- Subacute thyroiditis: is due to inflammation that occurs in the parenchyma, which will favor appearance in excess of hormones, as that will cause temporary hyperthyroidism that usually lasts several weeks or even months;

- Toxic thyroid nodule: a benign thyroid tumor nature, which can be moved from clinically (non-functional) or can produce thyroid hormones, causing the appearance of clinical hyperthyroidism;



- Plummer's disease (toxic nodular goiter or) is a form of hyperthyroidism due to the existence of autonomous nodes that produce excessive amounts of hormones. It is considered the second case, in order of importance, of hyperthyroidism after Graves' disease;

- Pituitary pathology, pituitary tumors: in this category included: Strum Thyroid, thyroiditis De Quervain, toxic thyroiditis, thyroid cancer, lymphoma and metastases that may confine this level.

Hypothyroidism, in contrast to hyperthyroidism is a condition where the thyroid can not synthesize and / or secrete hormones circulating properly. Because the body is deprived of these hormones, which have many important functional roles, physiological processes can not arise in the normal parameters. The main symptoms associated with hypothyroidism include: fatigue muscle fatigue, cold intolerance, depression, muscle cramps, carpal tunnel syndrome, pallor, weight gain and fluid retention (edema), bradycardia, constipation.