Minimizing Unnecessary Surgery for Thyroid Nodules.

Source

From the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

Abstract

Thyroid follicles remodel continuously, responding to stimuli such as thyrotropin, growth factors, cytokines, and iodine. Nodules develop when these growth signals drive hyperplasia or when a follicular cell acquires a genetic mutation that confers autonomous growth. Thyroid nodules are commonly seen in clinical practice. With the use of ultrasonography, nodules can be detected in at least 25 to 50% of adults and are more common in women and with increasing age. When a patient presents with a thyroid nodule, the primary concern is whether it is benign or malignant. Findings on fine-needle aspiration, ideally performed with ultrasonographic guidance, are the . . .