Common thyroid disorders in the elderly

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Diagnosing a thyroid disorder in an elderly patient can be a challenge: Onset is insidious, symptoms and signs are often masked by those of other diseases, and commonly taken medications confound the results of thyroid function tests. Treatment may be complicated by underlying heart disease or osteoporosis. In this article, the authors undertake the task of demystifying the perplexities of accurate diagnosis and rational management of thyroid disease in the elderly.