hormonal and metabolic disorders
Hypothyroidism
Diagnosis of Hypothyroidism
Measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in blood Doctors usually suspect hypothyroidism on the basis of the symptoms and findings on physical examination, including a slow pulse. Usually hypothyroidism can be diagnosed with one simple blood test: the measurement of TSH. If the thyroid gland is underactive, the level of TSH is high. In those rare cases of hypothyroidism caused by inadequate secretion of TSH, a second blood test is needed. This blood test measures the level of the thyroid hormone T4 (thyroxine, or tetraiodothyronine). A low level supports the diagnosis of hypothyroidism if the free level of T4 is also low. In that case, evaluation of the pituitary with pituitary function tests and imaging is generally performed. 