I am going to be having a lot of test in the near future, including an MRI, my doctor thinks that my thyroid is messed up and am concerned that he is over testing.
An MRI can tell your doctor if there is an anatomical problem with your thyroid. An x-ray wouldn't show that. Thyroid function is easy to test using blood tests however.
MRI's can detect enlargement or abnormal shape of the thyroid but it cannot diagnose abnormalities in thryroid function. Ultrasounds can also be used to determine enlargement of the thyroid gland. A physician may chose to use a MRI because there are no injections required and there is no exposure to radiation during this test.
An MRI can and will detect a problem with your thyroid if there is indeed one. It may also detect something else that could be wrong. If there is a lump or something else going on with your thyroid you could also opt for a CT scan or ultra sound.
Yes, MRI can detect enlargement or tumors,tumor size of your thyroid if present. But for hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism,T3,T4,TSH should be done first.
