Thyroiditis, Goiter, Thyroid Nodules, and Thyroid Cancer

Abstract

Thyroid disorders are the most common endocrine conditions encountered in clinical practice. Persons of either sex and any age can be affected, although almost all forms of thyroid disease are more frequent in women than in men, and many thyroid ailments increase in incidence with age. The presentation of thyroid conditions can range from clinically obvious to clinically silent. Their consequences can be widespread and serious, even life-threatening. With proper testing, the diagnosis and differential diagnosis can be established with certainty, and effective treatments can be instituted for almost all patients. This review contains 1 figure, 7 tables, and 31 references. Key Words: Hypothyroidism, Thyrotoxicosis, Thyrotropin, celiac disease, vitiligo, pernicious anemia, Sjögren syndrome, Graves disease, Munchausen syndrome