Title: Understanding and interpreting thyroid function tests
Abstract: Thyroid function tests are commonly requested on children and young people in primary and secondary care settings. These tests include markers of thyroid function including thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) concentrations. This short article aims to equip the reader to interpret them correctly. Not all biochemical parameters outside the reference range will require therapeutic intervention and there are a number of potential associated pitfalls. For example, a set of thyroid function test results may not be a cause for concern in one setting but require immediate action in another clinical context. Understanding whether abnormal thyroid function is cause or consequence and gaining insight into the likely underlying natural history are components of good clinical care. Knowing when not to treat abnormal thyroid function can be as important as knowing when treatment is required.
Publication Year: 2023
Publication Date: 2023-05-22
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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