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Postgraduate Medical Journal 2009;85:190-195; doi:10.1136/pgmj.2008.072140
© 2009 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine.

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Evaluation of the thyroid nodule

D Ghassi, A Donato

Department of Internal Medicine, The Reading Hospital and Medical Center, West Reading, Philadelphia, USA

Correspondence to:
Dr D Ghassi, 10 F Downing Square, Guilderland, NY 12084, USA; dimpleghassi2{at}yahoo.com

The annual incidence of thyroid cancer worldwide is 1 case per 100 000 men and 2.6 cases per 100 000 women. Most thyroid nodules are asymptomatic and are discovered incidentally on physical examination, self-palpation or incidentally on imaging studies performed for unrelated reasons. Although the majority of both palpable and non-palpable thyroid nodules are benign, ~5% may represent thyroid cancer. Thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroid ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration biopsy are key tests to guide management. Physicians caring for patients with thyroid nodules need to develop a rational, cost-effective approach to ordering and interpreting imaging and diagnostic tests in the evaluation of the thyroid nodule.

Keywords: endocrinology; carcinoma of the thyroid; thyroid nodule


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