[Do not always puncture a thyroid nodule]

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2015:159:A9414.
[Article in Dutch]

Abstract

The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing, especially the papillary subtype. This increase can be mainly attributed to the detection of small - mostly indolent - papillary thyroid cancers as a consequence of the higher sensitivity of diagnostic techniques and the more frequent use of diagnostic applications. Two patients are described with (non-)palpable thyroid nodules to illustrate the risk of overdiagnostics and overtreatment. A thyroid incidentaloma detected on ultrasound, CT or MRI does not require further diagnostic procedures as standard. The pros and cons of diagnostic procedures must be discussed in a multidisciplinary team.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma / epidemiology*
  • Carcinoma / surgery
  • Carcinoma, Papillary
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease Management
  • Early Detection of Cancer / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Incidental Findings
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Punctures
  • Thyroid Cancer, Papillary
  • Thyroid Gland / pathology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / surgery
  • Thyroid Nodule / classification*
  • Thyroid Nodule / diagnosis
  • Unnecessary Procedures
  • Watchful Waiting