Expert telephone forum on March 10, 2026
On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, readers of Volksstimme will have the opportunity to ask questions on the topic of “Thyroid disorders: New diagnosis and treatment options” during a telephone forum. Prof. Dr. med. Michael Kreißl, chief physician of the Nuclear Medicine Department at Magdeburg University Hospital, spokesperson for the Thyroid Section of the German Society for Endocrinology, and chairman of the Thyroid Committee of the German Society for Nuclear Medicine, will be available to answer your questions, along with his colleague, senior physician Dr. Henning Weis, and Dr. med. Kirsten Reschke, senior physician at the University Clinic for Kidney and Hypertension Diseases, Diabetology, and Endocrinology in Magdeburg, will be available to answer your questions.
After being diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, patients often have many questions, which the experts will answer and provide information about the latest developments in the field. From 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., interested parties can call 0391-532970 to find out about diagnosis, therapy, and the latest developments in this field.
The thyroid is a small organ with a big impact. It performs essential functions and regulates almost all processes in the body. Its hormones influence metabolism, circulation, growth, and even mental health. Changes in hormone production can therefore have many effects and lead to health problems.
About one-third of adults in Germany develop thyroid changes during their lifetime. Approximately 80 percent of those affected are women. Hyperthyroidism leads to an overactive metabolism, while hypothyroidism tends to slow down the metabolism. The thyroid gland, which functions like a small chemical factory, produces two important hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).
To diagnose the condition, the TSH level in the blood is usually determined and the neck is palpated. TSH, a messenger substance produced in the brain, controls thyroid activity: a low level indicates hyperthyroidism, while an elevated level indicates hypothyroidism. If a dysfunction is suspected, additional blood tests are performed, along with an ultrasound examination and, if necessary, a scintigraphy. Typical symptoms of hyperthyroidism include increased sweating, high blood pressure, sleep and concentration problems, and unwanted weight loss. The most common cause is Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system causes the thyroid gland to produce excessive amounts of hormones.
Over the course of a lifetime, so-called “hot nodules” can develop in the thyroid gland. These nodules are almost always benign, but they lead to an overproduction of thyroid hormones.
In some cases, drug treatment can help to restore normal thyroid function. Standard treatments also include gentle radioiodine therapy. Surgery is also a standard treatment, especially if malignant changes cannot be ruled out. In this case, at least the affected thyroid lobe is usually removed. In special cases, the nodules can be destroyed using radiofrequency ablation, in which a thicker needle is inserted into the nodule and destroyed by heat. Magdeburg University Hospital is the only location in Saxony-Anhalt where all of the above-mentioned treatment methods are available, so that the right choice can be made for each individual case.
Photo: Thyroid examination - (c) Kalim - stock.adobe.com