Thyroid Disorders Testing
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INDICATIONS FOR TESTING
Increased or decreased metabolism (heat or cold intolerance, weight loss or gain,
depression, anxiety, etc)
Family history of autoimmune thyroiditis
Goiter on physical exam
ORDER
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone with Reflex
to Free Thyroxine
Low TSH – High TSH –
suggests suggests
hyperthyroidism hypothyroidism
Normal TSH and free T4
Thyroid disease
unlikely
Low free T4 Primary hypothyroidism
Thyroid ablation removal Low free
Central hypothyroidism Euthyroid sick syndrome T4
Severe illness Transient thyroiditis
Euthyroid sick If still concerned with
syndrome hyperthyroidism,
Normal Thyroid hormone
free T4 Subclinical ORDER
hyperthyroidism Triiodothyronine, Total resistance High
Drug interference (Total T3) TSH resistance free T4
TSH secreting adenoma
Normal High
Subclinical hypothyroidism
High Hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism T3 Euthyroid sick syndrome Normal
free T4 unlikely hyperthyroidism Transient thyroiditis free T4
Autoimmune thyroiditis
ORDER
Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI)
Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Antibody
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Receptor Antibody (TRAb) CONSIDER
Thyroid Antibodies
Triiodothyronine, Total (Total T3)
T3 by dialysis
TSI Ab+
TPO+
TRAb+
Clinical indications of
Graves ophthalmologic
disease present TPO Ab- Normal T3 Low T3 Positive Negative
Diffuse thyroid gland TSI Ab- antibodies antibodies
enlargement
Probable Hypothyroidism T3 Automimmune Thyroid disease
Graves disease
toxic nodule/s unlikely hypothyroidism thyroid disease unlikely
Facilitate treatment decisions
CONSIDER
Radioiodine thyroid scan and % uptake
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