The Management of Thyroid Nodules

Abstract

Thyroid nodules are extremely common and are detected in 3%–7% of the general population by palpation and in 70% of the population by ultrasonography (USG). Approximately 5%–15% of these nodules are malignant. Therefore, in nodule examination, our primary aim is to detect malignant nodules. Besides the medical history and the findings of the physical examination, USG and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) are the most commonly used methods to examine these nodules. Ultrasound- guided FNAB and on-site assessment of FNA specimens are suggested to decrease false negative and non-diagnostic test results. FNAB results in the “atypia of undetermined significance” group is challenging in the follow-up or treatment of the nodule. In this group, to differentiate the malignant nodules, other developing methods, such as analyzing molecular genetic markers, protein markers, and elastography, are generally studied. However, these methods are not used in a routine nodule examination because of cost-benefit analysis.

Keywords

• thyroid nodule
• fine-needle aspiration biopsy
• ultrasonography
• thyroid cancer