Thyroid dysfunction
Current expert opinion in the UK suggests that general testing of the population detects only a few cases of overt thyroid disease and is therefore unjustified even in high risk groups such as women over 60 and those with a strong family history of thyroid disease. (Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypothyroidism -
British Medical Journal vol 313 pp 539-544 1996.
Testing is recommended in those patients who are at high risk of iatrogenic hypothyroidism because of previous thyroid surgery or treatment with radioiodine and those prescribed lithium or amiodarone.
