Subclinical Thyroid Disease: A Clinician's Perspective
Authors: David S. Cooper
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1998)

Editorials15 July 1998Subclinical Thyroid Disease: A Clinician's PerspectiveDavid S. Cooper, MDDavid S. Cooper, MDFrom Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21215.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-129-2-199807150-00016 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Every clinician knows the symptoms, signs, and laboratory abnormalities associated with overt hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Both conditions are unequivocally associated with morbidity and, occasionally, mortality, and no one would dispute the importance of timely diagnosis and therapy. In contrast, subclinical hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism have subtle clinical manifestations at most, and the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment continue to be contentious subjects of research studies, position papers, and editorials. The central issues are whether subclinical thyroid diseases are of sufficient clinical importance to warrant screening or case finding and whether, once these conditions are detected by an abnormal serum thyrotropin ...References1. Danese MD, Powe N, Sawin CT, Ladenson PW. Screening for mild thyroid failure at the periodic health examination: a decision and cost-effectiveness analysis. JAMA. 1996; 276:285-92. Google Scholar2. Helfand M, Redfern CC. Screening for thyroid disease: an update. Ann Intern Med. 1998; 129:144-158. Google Scholar3. Surks MI, Chopra IJ, Mariash CN, Nicoloff JT, Solomon DH. American Thyroid Association guidelines for use of laboratory tests in thyroid disorders. JAMA. 1990; 263:1529-32. Google Scholar4. Glenn GC. Practice parameter on laboratory panel testing for screening and case finding in asymptomatic adults. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1996; 120:929-43. Google Scholar5. Stott DJ, McLellan AR, Finlayson J, Chu P, Alexander WD. 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Standards of Care Committee, American Thyroid Association. JAMA. 1995; 273:808-12. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD 21215.Corresponding Author: David S. Cooper, MD, Division of Endocrinology, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Belvedere at Greenspring, Baltimore, MD 21215. 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