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Article: Coverage of thyroid function studies. (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 function studies are used to delineate the presence or absence of hormonal abnormalities of the thyroid. These abnormalities may be either primary or secondary and usually accompany clinically well-defined signs and symptoms indicative of thyroid dysfunction. Serum levels of thyroid hormone are useful to confirm clinical hyperfunction, hypofunction or euthyroidism of the thyroid gland.
Thyroid function tests should not be performed without the presence of at least some supporting signs or symptoms of hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism or thyroid mass (eg, tachycardia, bradycardia, tremor, fine or thick skin, sweating, weight changes, bowel changes, eyelid ...