[Thyroid dysfunction: a topic of constant review for the gynaecologist, for its frequency in women].

Thyroid dysfunction is more common in women than in men due to the hormone changes which are functional in proper stages such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause. It seems that the interrelationship between the endocrine and immunologic systems may be responsible of the incidence of thyroid dysfunction. The development of precise techniques for the measurement of thyroid hormones as well as the advancement in imagenology studies have contributed to proper diagnosis and therapeutic modalities. Thyroid diseases during pregnancy are now better treated and no harm has been observed in neonates. Fine needle-aspiration biopsy for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer is considered the best diagnostic procedure, but remains in controversy the extension of surgery of the gland. There are still some controversial points regarding TSH universal screening, the adequate treatment of hyperthyroidism and the management of non-cancerous thyroid nodules.