Evaluation of the thyroid nodule
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Reading Hospital and Medical Center, West Reading, Philadelphia, USA
- Dr D Ghassi, 10 F Downing Square, Guilderland, NY 12084, USA; dimpleghassi2{at}yahoo.com
- Received 5 June 2008
- Accepted 11 December 2008
Abstract
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.
Footnotes
-
Competing interests: None.
