American Thyroid Association Guidelines for Detection of Thyroid Dysfunction

Abstract

The American Thyroid Association recommends that adults be screened for thyroid dysfunction by measurement of the serum thyrotropin concentration, beginning at age 35 years and every 5 years thereafter. The indication for screening is particularly compelling in women, but it can also be justified in men as a relatively cost-effective measure in the context of the periodic health examination. Individuals with symptoms and signs potentially attributable to thyroid dysfunction and those with risk factors for its development may require more frequent serum thyrotropin testing.

Are we using Thyroid Function Tests Appropriately?

“…Commonly done tests to diagnose thyroid disorders include estimation of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) along with thyroid hormones, tri iodothyronine (T3) & tetra iodothyronine (T4) either in total or free form. The guidelines of American thyroid association and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommend serum TSH measurement as the single most reliable test to diagnose all common forms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism particularly in the ambulatory setting [6,7]. Thyroid stimulating hormone confirms or excludes the diagnosis in all patients with primary hypothyroidism, an elevated concentration being present in both overt and mild hypothyroidism [4].…”

Comparative analysis of the new guidelines and consensuses for the management of hypothyroidism, thyroid nodules, and differentiated thyroid cancer

“…Regarding the elderly, the AACE/ATA guideline is more specific and acknowledges that screening for hypothyroidism should be considered in patients over the age of 60 years. These recommendations differ from the older ATA guidelines published in 2000, when frequent early screening was recommended beginning at age 35, and every 5 years thereafter (7).…”

An Adequate Representation of Medical Data Based on Partial Set Approximation

“…Let us suppose that we study the symptoms of the thyroid dysfunction [14]. Clinical symptoms which manifest thyroid dysfunction progress slowly they are often nonspecific and could represent other not thyroid disorders.…”