[Hyperthyroidism in the elderly]

In patients older than 60 years it is more difficult to establish the diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis because 1. the classical symptoms are either less pronounced or totally absent, 2. complaints of symptoms of the digestive system are more striking and suspicious of a carcinoma (diminished appetite, weight loss, constipation), 3. symptoms like hypertension and cardiac arrhythmia are often to be found in elderly people and therefore not of great diagnostic significance, 4. in a high percentage of cases a selective T3-thyrotoxicosis is to be found.