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Investigations of thyroid diseases--an update on diagnostic methods.

Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are an important public health problem in India. It requires further refinement and improvements in thyroid disease diagnosis, especially in the early diagnosis of thyroid malfunctioning and risk assessment of autonomously functioning thyroid tissue. Scintigraphy with technetium-99m pertechnetate under exogenous or endogenous thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression provides the best results. There has been significant improvement in methodology in various laboratory investigations that have resulted from the application of newer luminescent techniques and gene technology in various thyroid function tests. TSH measurement especially by using second or third generation assays has ensured diagnostic accuracy and thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) test now almost always unnecessary. Determination of glycosaminoglycans in urine may become a helpful tool in the follow up of endocrine ophthalmopathy. The differentiation of blocking and stimulating TSH receptor antibodies is relevant when discrepant results are obtained with respect to thyroid function. Some newer imaging agents have been used in thyroid disease scintigraphy such as octreotide or in thyroid diseases diagnosis such as fluorodeoxyglucose. Both improve the detectability of thyroid cancer metastasis especially if radioiodine scan is negative.

Goiter, Endemic↗

The association of chronic urticaria and angioedema with autoimmune thyroiditis.

BACKGROUND: An increased frequency of autoimmune thyroiditis is seen in patients with chronic urticaria and angioedema (CUA) and it has been hypothesized that autoimmunity may be playing a role in the pathogenesis of CUA. The aim of this study was to learn the extent of autoimmune thyroid disease in a series of patients who presented with CUA. METHODS: Thyroid function tests and thyroid autoantibodies were measured by radioimmunoassay and immunoradiometric assay respectively in 94 CUA patients and 80 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Eleven patients (11.7%) were found to have thyroglobulin antibodies (TGA) and nine patients (9.57%) thyroid microsomal (TMA) titers ranging from 150 to 1340.37 and from 165.73 to 8000 IU/mL respectively. Both antibodies were detected in three control cases (3.7%). The association was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Six of 11 patients had thyroid dysfunction and the other five cases were euthyroid. CONCLUSIONS: Our results justified the use of TMA and TGA for the early diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis in combination with CUA. The higher frequency of these antibodies in our patients, along with results from previously published data, suggest that this entity may reflect an autoimmune basis in some CUA patients. Thyroid function tests are not enough to rule out thyroid disease, and thyroid antibody tests should be carried out in all patients with CUA.

Adult↗

Neurocognitive function in children with compensated hypothyroidism: lack of short term effects on or off thyroxin.

BACKGROUND: Although thyroxin therapy clearly is beneficial to children with frank hypothyroidism there is little data on the effects of thyroxin in children with compensated or subclinical hypothyroidism. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of thyroxin therapy on cognitive function in children with compensated hypothyroidism. The hypothesis was that thyroxin therapy would change neuropsychological function. METHODS: Eleven patients with a history of sub clinical hypothyroidism entered the study. At the start of the study, six out of the 11 were on thyroxin therapy, while 5 were off therapy. All patients underwent a battery of neuropsychological testing and thyroid function tests at the start of study. Based on the results of thyroid function tests, two of the 5 patients who were off thyroxin were started back on thyroxin. All of the 6 patients who were on thyroxin were taken off thyroxin. All patients then underwent repeat neuropsychological testing and thyroid functions after an average of 91 days. RESULTS: Thyroxin therapy could not be shown to have an effect on neuropsychological function in this short term study. Our patients had attention problems as compared to the normal population. No significant differences were found between our subjects and normal population standards in verbal processing, visual processing, motor speed/coordination and achievement. CONCLUSION: In this small, short term study, thyroxin therapy could not be shown to affect neuropsychological function in children with compensated hypothyroidism. These children may have attention problems but appear to have normal verbal and visual processing, motor speed/coordination and achievement.

Journal Article↗

Thyroid function studies. Test strategies and interpretation of results.

Biochemical tests for detection of thyroid dysfunction in persons without underlying systemic illness are highly effective. In fact, one or more of the following tests are sufficiently diagnostic to allow initiation of appropriate treatment: thyroxine (T4), free T4 index (FT4-I), thyrotropin (TSH), and triiodothyronine (T3). Only rarely is it necessary to measure free T4 concentration or perform a thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test. Patients with underlying illnesses, on the other hand, frequently exhibit unexpectedly abnormal test results depsite euthyroidism. Thus, if clinically feasible, thyroid function testing should be postponed in such patients.

Humans↗

Diagnosis of thyroid hormone transport protein anomalies: an overview.

Inherited or acquired variations in the serum concentrations of TBG, TTR or albumin are rather common. Clinical studies have shown that most patients with transport protein variations were referred for thyroid testing because of incidentally detected "unusual" thyroid function tests. Although, usually no palpable thyroid abnormalities were found, the interpretation of these unexpected thyroid function tests resulted very often in inappropriate treatment with surgery, 131-iodine, antithyroid drugs as well as T4-replacement therapy. The clinical impact in the interpretation and diagnosis of thyroid hormone transport protein variations is to prevent these patients of unnecessary and sometimes also contraindicated treatment. If changes in thyroid hormone transport proteins in individuals with thyroid disorders or in individuals with the coexistence of two inherited defects are seen, difficulties in the interpretation of thyroid function tests will still occur.

Animals↗

Effect of early referral to an endocrinologist on efficiency and cost of evaluation and development of treatment plan in patients with thyroid nodules.

Radionuclide uptake and scan and sonogram, frequently ordered before referral to an endocrinologist, are expensive and poor predictors of thyroid nodule malignancy. We estimated costs of excessive imaging and other studies by reviewing the records of all patients (n = 70) referred to a single, consulting endocrinologist, for thyroid nodule evaluation in a 2-yr interval and subsequently, presenting only pertinent histories and results of physical examinations, thyroid function tests, and thyroid autoantibodies, to a second, reviewing endocrinologist (RE) who was blinded to diagnosis and management. Concordance in diagnosis and management between consulting endocrinologist and RE was 87.1% and 93.4%, respectively. Accuracy of diagnosis, loss of patient's time (8.7 h, average), and cost of unnecessary testing, defined as tests not required by the RE for diagnosis and management according to published guidelines, were determined. Unnecessary testing included 153 physician's office or diagnostic laboratory visits, 44 sets of thyroid function tests, 32 radionuclide uptake and scan, 39 thyroid sonograms, and 3 computed tomography scans. The total direct cost of unnecessary tests was estimated at $27,290 ($390/patient) in addition to costs of 30 unnecessary physician's office visits. Only 2 of 8 surgical referrals required surgery, whereas 6 other patients required surgery, including 3 with papillary carcinoma. We conclude that early referral to an endocrinologist of patients with suspected thyroid nodules results in significant savings in cost of evaluation, patient's time, and increased diagnostic precision. Six of the 8 patients referred for surgery before endocrine consultation had benign thyroid disease that did not require surgery. Six additional patients were referred to surgery, 3 of whom had papillary thyroid carcinoma. Early referral of patients with suspected thyroid nodules to an endocrinologist results in significant savings in both cost and patient's time as well as increased precision of diagnosis.

Adolescent↗

Lack of influence of povidone-iodine on tests of thyroid function.

The external application of povidone-iodine, an antiseptic agent, was tested for its influence on thyroid function. Previous workers have described some in vitro changes in thyroid function tests following its use. In the present study topical application of povidone-iodine did not affect thyroid function as measured some days later using both in vivo and radio-active iodine in vitro test methods, despite the fact that the latter are notorious for being influenced by exogenous iodine.

Administration, Topical↗

Thyroid nodular disease after radiotherapy to the neck for childhood Hodgkin's disease.

Patients who receive radiotherapy to the neck are at risk of developing thyroid dysfunction. This prospective study of patients whose treatment for Hodgkin's disease in childhood included radiotherapy to the neck aimed to investigate the incidence and natural history of thyroid dysfunction and the morphological changes of the gland demonstrated on ultrasound. Forty-seven patients were investigated by clinical examination, thyroid function tests and thyroid ultrasound. Only six patients had a clinically detectable abnormality, but 64% had abnormal thyroid function tests. All patients had an abnormal thyroid ultrasound scan and 42% had at least one focal abnormality. A significant association was found between the presence of a focal lesion on ultrasound and young age at radiotherapy, longer follow-up and the length of time that the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level had been elevated. During follow-up, 65% of patients not on thyroxine developed new focal abnormalities. The longest time interval between radiotherapy and an increase in TSH level was 94 months, and from radiotherapy to the appearance of a focal abnormality on thyroid ultrasound was over 18 years. Three patients were found to have a thyroid carcinoma. These findings indicate the importance of long-term follow-up for patients treated by neck irradiation for Hodgkin's disease in childhood.

Adolescent↗