Thyroid Disease
Screening is "the application of a test to detect a potential disease
or condition in a person who has no known signs or symptoms of that condition
at the time the test is done". Screening with thyroid function tests
can identify clinically inapparent subclinical thyroid dysfunction. Subclinical
hypothyroidism is diagnosed when a patient has an elevated thyroid-stimulating
hormone (TSH) level as determined by a sensitive TSH test and a normal thyroxine
level. Subclinical hyperthyroidism is diagnosed when a patient has an undetectable
TSH level and a normal thyroxine level. Screening also detects overt thyroid
dysfunction, which is diagnosed when a patient has an elevated TSH level and
a low thyroxine level (overt hypothyroidism) or an undetectable TSH level
and an elevated thyroxine level (overt hyperthyroidism).
Campus Resources :
References :
Screening
for Thyroid Disease Annals of Internal Medicine, 15 July 1998. 129:141-143.
Summary and Algorithm
Screening
for Thyroid Disease : An Update : Annals of Internal Medicine, 15 July
1998. 129:144-158.
