Contribution of thyroid gland ultrasound for screening of patients with suspected subclinical thyroid gland disorders.

Thyroid gland ultrasonography is recommended in patients with nonspecific clinical symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, amnesic symptoms, depression, bradycardia, abnormal myocardial contractility, increased diastolic pressure, hypercholesterolemia, menstrual abnormalities, infertility, fibrocystic breast disease, anxiety, insomnia, tachycardia, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and osteoporosis. Subclinical hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism can cause any of the above mentioned symptoms. Diffusely decreased, decreased and inhomogenous thyroid gland echogenicity requires laboratory examination. Thyroid gland ultrasonography is recommended also in patients with type I. diabetes mellitus and vitiligo because of increased incidence of thyroid disorders in these patients. Clinical observation of patients treated with Lithium, Amiodaron or Interferon is also recommended. (Tab. 2, Fig. 6, Ref. 18.)