Unrecognized thyroid dysfunction in patients with cancer.
Abnormal thyroid function can cause subtle medical symptoms in "healthy" individuals. Because cancer can cause similar symptoms, physicians may fail to suspect and test for thyroid abnormalities. We measured thyroid function in 158 patients with various types of cancers being followed at a comprehensive cancer center and found that 16% of them had a thyroid abnormality, which had not been diagnosed and treated in any of them. We conclude that thyroid dysfunction is usually unrecognized in cancer patients and may possibly contribute to their morbidity.
Shani
Dana
D
docshani@aol.com
Brand
Donald A
DA
Patrick
Patricia A
PA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*