CLINICAL THYROIDOLOGY FOR PATIENTS
A publication of the American Thyroid Association

Table of Contents

EDITOR’S COMMENTS

Welcome to the new format for Clinical Thyroidology for Patients. This publication is a collection of summaries of recently published articles from the medical literature that covers the broad spectrum of thyroid disorders. Clinical Thyroidology for Patients will be published on a monthly basis and include 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. There will also be a Calendar of Events that will highlight educational forums and support groups that are organized 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:

  • Is a higher TSH level normal for people over the age of 90 years?
  • Do low thyroid hormone levels in very sick hospitalized patients cause heart problems?
  • What factors make very small thyroid cancers more likely to spread?
  • Are environmental factors playing a role in the rapid increase of new cases of thyroid cancer?
  • Is a higher risk of complications after more aggressive surgery for thyroid cancer worth a higher rate of cure?

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 Farwell, MD