Thyroid Diseases PDF

Preface

Although many books about thyroid diseases were published in the past, no recent book details these diseases and dysfunctions didactically in a homogeneous and uniform way. In fact, every chapter of this book presents a didactic methodological exposition starting with definition of the dysfunction or disease, followed by epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, clinical features, first and second level tests for diagnosis, first and second line therapies, prognosis, and follow-up.

The recent recognized thyroid dysfunctions such as transient forms of hyper- and hypothyroidism, subclinical hyper- and hypothyroidism, thyroid dysfunction during gestation and postpartum, and the influence of iodine on the thyroid during pregnancy are treated as separate entities. The final chapters concern the importance of many drugs that modify thyroid function and thyroid disruptors that affect thyroid homeostasis. Special focus is on the bimodal and/or transient development of some thyroid diseases, the evolution of diagnosis, the priorities of therapies, and lifelong follow-up of patients. All the chapter authors pursued long periods of training in outstanding research laboratories and are active investigators and well known in the international arena.

The didactic and practical approach of this book should make it useful for practicing clinicians and those in training including medical students, medical and surgical residents, fellows in endocrinology and internal medicine, and clinicians in other areas of medicine.

The aim of this book is to transmit what the writers know. The reader is the judge of whether he or she learns. If this book meets with readers' approval, its goal will be reached. If not, readers' criticisms will stimulate further improvement and study.