Fast Facts: Thyroid Disorders

Abnormalities of thyroid function rival diabetes mellitus in terms of prevalence and can affect any system in the body. In the UK and North America it is estimated that palpable thyroid nodules are present in 1 in 20 of the population, and in the UK alone 20,000 tests are carried out each year in clinical chemistry laboratories. Thus, all doctors can expect to encounter thyroid disease in one form or another. Thyroid disorders are generally very responsive to treatment, but there are traps for t