The primary rationale for screening asymptomatic patients is that the resulting treatment results in improved health outcomes when compared with patients who are not screened. There is insufficient evidence available indicating that screening for thyroid diseases will have these results.
Conditions: Asymptomatic Healthy Patients, Thyroid Disease, Hypothyroidism
Diagnostic Tests: Thyroid Function Test (TFT), T4, T3, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
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Sources
- The Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination. Screening for thyroid disorders and thyroid cancer in asymptomatic adults. The Canadian Guide to Clinical Preventive Health Care. 1994;612-18 [cited 2014 Sep 25]. (GC.ca)
- Screening for thyroid disease: recommendation statement. Ann. Intern. Med. Jan 20 2004;140(2):125-127. (PubMed)
- Surks MI, Ortiz E, Daniels GH, et al. Subclinical thyroid disease: scientific review and guidelines for diagnosis and management. JAMA. Jan 14 2004;291(2):228- 238. (PubMed)
- Management of thyroid dysfunction in adults. BPJ. 2010 Dec.(22):22-33. [cited 2014 Sep 25]. (BPAC)