Thyroid Function in Japanese Adults as Assessed by a General Health Checkup System in Relation with Thyroid-Related Antibodies and Other Clinical Parameters

In Japanese adults who chose to be screened by a general health checkup system, the prevalence of abnormal thyroid function was nearly 10%. In a high percentage of these patients, abnormal thyroid function could not be detected by their history or physical examination. Just a physical examination without thyroid function tests, particularly serum TSH levels, was not adequate even when performed by a thyroid specialist.