Thyroid Disorders in the Elderly: An Overall Summary.

Medical care for elderly patients is often distinctly different from that of younger counterparts. This is no truer than in a thyroid disorder context, where patients are often asymptomatic and polypharmacy is a potential consideration. Understanding how treatment of these patients can deviate from common practices is an essential asset to any health care provider. The purpose of this article is to shed light on those deviations and address inherent complexities in caring for elderly patients in an effort to improve quality of care. Topics considered range from general anatomic challenges to underlying biochemistry to adjuvant therapy options and surveillance.