Not enough evidence for thyroid screening, says USPSTF (US Preventive Services Task Force)
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The US Preventive Services Task Force has found insufficient clinical evidence to recommend for or against routine screening for thyroid disease in adults. Although there is "fair evidence" to suggest that the thyroid stimulating hormone test can detect subclinical thyroid disease in people without symptoms, there is only "poor evidence" to suggest that treatment will help adults identified in this way, the group concluded. Moreover, it warned there is a potential for harm caused by false positive tests, given the potential adverse effects of antithyroid drugs, radioiodine, thyroid surgery and thyroid replacement therapy if detection and early treatment is unnecessary.