Long Period Observation of Biochemical Survey and Ultrasonography in Thyroid Diseases and Subclinical Thyroid Diseases
Long Period Observation of Biochemical Survey and Ultrasonography in Thyroid Diseases and Subclinical Thyroid Diseases
Clinical and subclinical thyroid disease is usually used to describe patients with mild
 symptoms correlated to hyperthyroid or hypothyroid state. Therapeutic decision for clinical
 and subclinical thyroid dysfunction should be considered individually. But long term outcome
 for treatment of such functional and structural thyroid diseases had not been recorded
 delicately in Taiwan. Further investigations should be observed in the future.The purpose of
 this study is aiming for early prevention and detection the potential risk factors for
 thyroid diseases in Taiwan.
Clinical and subclinical thyroid disease is usually used to describe patients with mild
 symptoms correlated to hyperthyroid or hypothyroid state. Thyroid ultrasonography could
 differentiate benign or malignant nodular lesion, together with fine needle aspiration
 cytology and surgical pathology. Thyrotropin (TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone) is the
 pivotal investigation in laboratory diagnosis to define subclinical thyroid diseases. An
 elevated TSH with normal free thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels in serum is defined to be
 subclinical hypothyroidism, and a subnormal TSH with normal thyroid hormone concentrations to
 be subclinical hyperthyroidism. Generally, the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism and
 hyperthyroidism were reported as 4% -10% & 1%-2% in general population, respectively.
 Although subclinical thyroid disease is prevalent, there is still no consensus for screening
 clinical and subclinical thyroid disease, including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, nodular
 goiter and thyroid cancer. Under consideration of age, gender or familial history of
 autoimmune thyroid disease. However, screening for thyroid dysfunction should be considered
 in some high risk patients, including 1) elderly; 2) history of atrial fibrillation; 3)
 previous thyroid disease history; 4) other confirmed autoimmune diseases; 5) neck exposure of
 radiation (for example, nasopharyngeal cancer, post-radiation); 6) family history of probable
 autoimmune thyroid disease, and 7) pregnant state with prior thyroid disease history.
 Therapeutic decision for clinical and subclinical thyroid dysfunction should be considered
 individually. Therapeutic options will be anti-thyroid medications and/or radioactive iodine,
 and thyroidectomy could be considered with larger goiters for hyperthyroidism. For clinical
 and subclinical hypothyroidism, the therapeutic consideration should be aimed on reduction of
 progression to overt hypothyroidism, improving heart function, correction of dyslipidemia,
 and relieving senescence depressive mood. Thyroid ultrasonography will help us to keep long
 term observation of thyroid structural change. But long term outcome for treatment of such
 functional and structural thyroid diseases had not been recorded delicately in Taiwan.
 Further investigations should be observed in the future. We hope to check the relationship
 between various thyroid diseases and biochemical survey/ultrasonography. The purpose of this
 study is aiming for early prevention and detection the potential risk factors for thyroid
 diseases in Taiwan.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Age 20-80 years old

 -  Thyroid diseases, including nodular goiter, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and
 thyroid cancer (before or after operation), consecutive follow-up in outpatient
 department, and we expected to enroll 800 patients in one year, and follow-up with
 observation for 5 years.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  N/A