Klin Farmakol Farm. 2011;25(1):24-26

Subclinical thyroid disease

Karolína Drbalová¹, Miroslav Vodák¹, Václav Zamrazil²

¹ ÚVN Praha

² Endokrinologický ústav Praha

Subclinical thyreopathies are pathological states of the thyroid gland that show no corresponding clinical symptoms, yet may be detected

sporadically by laboratory examination or screening methods. They represent a diagnostic entity, which appeared due to innovations

in laboratory diagnostics and recent focus on pre-clinical stages of manifestative diseases.

Subclinical thyreopathies include subclinical hypothyreosis and hyperthyreosis, thyroid volume or structure changes found accidentally

by sonography, initial stages of malignancy – accidental detection of a micro-carcinoma and subclinical forms of thyroiditis. Controversy

remains concerning exact definition, epidemiological issues, therapeutic intervention, evaluation of risk and gain implied in treatment

of these borderline clinical stages and, last but not least, early screening of risk groups if necessary.

Keywords: subclinical thyroid disease, definition, epidemiology, therapy screening

Published: March 18, 2011  Show citation