title: Relationship between semi-quantitative thyroid palpation and total thyroxine concentration in cats with and without hyperthyroidism.
abstract: In 155 cats, both with and without clinical signs of hyperthyroidism, total thyroxine (TT4) concentrations were compared to a sensitive, semi-quantitative thyroid palpation technique. On the basis of TT4 concentrations, 23 of the 155 cats were classified as hyperthyroid. The size of individual thyroid glands was scored between '0' (non-palpable) and a maximum of '6'. One or more enlarged thyroid glands (score >0) were palpated in 22 of the 23 hyperthyroid cats and in 78 of the 132 euthyroid cats. However, none of the 132 euthyroid cats had a thyroid lobe score of greater than '3' whereas 18 of the 23 hyperthyroid cats had a thyroid lobe score of '4' or greater, and in two of the five that had scores below '4' there was evidence of intrathoracic functional thyroid tissue on scintigraphy.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002415:Cats; D006042:Goiter / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D010173:Palpation / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013974:Thyroxine