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.

The American Thyroid Association recently came out with guidelines for the management of hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease. Our patient education brochures have been updated with this latest information. We have included the updated Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease brochures on pages 14 and 16.

IN THIS ISSUE, STUDIES ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

  • What are the risks of radioactive iodine on future pregnancy?
  • How often due high hCG levels cause hyperthyroidism?
  • How often do patients with Graves’ disease or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis have other autoimmune disorders?
  • Can benign thyroid nodules be treated with laser therapy and avoid surgery?
  • Does FDG-PET scanning have any role in interpreting thyroid biopsy results?
  • Do dietary nitrates cause thyroid cancer in men?
  • Is recombinant TSH as effective as thyroid hormone withdrawal in treating patients with metastatic thyroid cancer with radioactive iodine?

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