Investigating Thyroid Function

Why focus on thyroid function tests? Investigating Thyroid Function
When to test?
Screening patients at increased risk / asymptomatic patients
Which test should be used?
Limitations of thyroid function tests
Monitoring
Thyroid tests in the pregnant patient
Sick euthyroid syndrome
Thyroid cancer
The effects of drugs on thyroid function
GP and laboratory communication
Range of tests available
Thyroid function
References
See also TSH vs FT4: Reminder May 2007

Thyroid cancer

In patients with thyroid cancer, dosages of thyroxine that produce TSH suppression are intentionally used, because TSH is thought to promote tumour recurrence. TSH should be suppressed, but not to undetectable levels. Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies should also be measured to exclude interference with thyroglobulin assays. Thyroglobulin values below 2 ug/L, in the absence of thyroglobulin antibodies (particularly if TSH is elevated) are a useful negative predictor of residual or recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer.


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