In a recent assessment of the laboratory work-up of patients referred for pediatric endocrine evaluation in my database, an assessment of thyroid function was performed in 89% of 35,500 patients. In most cases thyroid function tests were performed in order to exclude hypothyroidism. Referrals for growth retardation and obesity were the most frequent; less frequent reasons were slow psycho-motor development and constipation. The most disturbing referrals were for 'abnormal thyroid tests' - blood tests were taken for non-obvious reasons. In some of the referrals the main reason was 'unexplained unusual T3'.
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