CLINICAL THYROIDOLOGY FOR PATIENTS
A publication of the American Thyroid Association

Table of Contents

EDITOR’S COMMENTS

Welcome to Clinical Thyroidology for Patients. This publication is a collection of summaries of the top articles from the recent medical literature that cover the broad spectrum of thyroid disorders. Clinical Thyroidology for Patients is published on a monthly basis and includes summaries of research studies that were discussed in the previous month’s issue of Clinical Thyroidology, a publication of the American Thyroid Association for physicians. This means that you, the patients, are getting the latest information on thyroid research and treatment almost as soon as your physicians. The Calendar of Events highlights educational forums and support groups that are organized around the country by members of the Alliance for Thyroid Patient Education. The Alliance member groups consist of: the American Thyroid Association, the Graves’ Disease Foundation, the Light of Life Foundation and ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors Association.

IN THIS ISSUE, STUDIES ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

  • Can we predict which patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism are at the highest risk to progress to overt hyperthyroidism?
  • What is the correlation between thyroglobulin levels and radioiodine scans in high risk thyroid cancer patients?
  • Do we even need radioiodine scans to follow thyroid cancer patients?
  • What it the correlation between radioiodine and FDG-PET scans in patients with metastatic thyroid cancer?
  • How common are small thyroid cancers in patients >45 years of age?
  • Can we predict cancer by analyzing gene mutations in biopsy specimens?
  • Are the calcification patterns in thyroid nodules predictive of the risk for thyroid cancer?
  • What is the risk of prolonged/permanent hypothyroidism in women with post-partum thyroiditis?
  • Do gene mutations plan a major role in patients with hyperthyroidism?

We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Let us know what you want to see in this publication. I hope you find these summaries interesting and informative.

 

— Alan P. Farwell, MD