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Article: Pitfalls to avoid while interpreting thyroid function tests: five illustrative cases. (Featured CME Topic: Thyroid Dysfunction/Disease).
- Article from:
- Southern Medical Journal
- Article date:
- May 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Southern Medical Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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THYROID DISORDERS occur in 5% to 10% of the population. As a result, laboratory tests of thyroid function are among the more common tests ordered in clinical practice. Treating physicians have at their disposal a large number of tests from which to choose in evaluating patients with suspected thyroid dysfunction (Table 1). In this era of cost consciousness, it is important not only to select tests that will provide the most information regarding thyroid function, but also to interpret the results accurately.
Several important points regarding laboratory assessments of thyroid function are worth mentioning. Test results must be interpreted in conjunction with a ...