Consensus statement for good practice and audit measures in the management of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism

and the Society for Endocrinology Thyroid disease is common and may present to a wide range of doctors.With the widespread availability of thyroid function testing in recent years increasing num- bers of patients with symptoms which might be attributable to hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are being tested.Many aspects of the management of thyroid disease have not been subjected to controlled clinical trials yet there are established practices which have never been questioned.The Research Unit of the Royal College of Physicians of London, the Endocrinology and Diabetes Committee of the college, and the Society for Endocrinology set up a working group to produce a consensus statement for good practice with associated audit measures which could be used to ensure that purchasers of health care are obtaining an acceptable standard of care for patients with thyroid disease.The working group focused on patient manage- ment rather than presenting symptoms and signs, which were detailed in a sirnilar report by the American Thy- roid Association.'This report summarises the consensus views reached by members of the working group.