The primary rationale for screening asymptomatic patients is that the resulting treatment results in improved health outcomes when compared with patients who are not screened. There is insufficient evidence available indicating that screening for thyroid diseases will have these results.
Sources:
Best Practice Advocacy Centre New Zealand. Management of thyroid dysfunction in adults [Internet]. BPJ. 2010 Dec;(22):22-33 [cited 2014 Sep 25]. Available from: .
Surks MI, et al. Subclinical thyroid disease: scientific review and guidelines for diagnosis and management. JAMA. 2004 Jan 14;291(2):228-238. PMID: 14722150.
The Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination. Screening for thyroid disorders and thyroid cancer in asymptomatic adults. The Canadian Guide to Clinical Preventive Health Care [Internet]. 1994;612-18 [cited 2014 Sep 25].
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for thyroid disease: recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med. 2004 Jan 20;140(2):125-7. PMID: 14734336.