Thyroid nodules in the irradiated patient--an indication for total thyroidectomy.
Eight patients who received radiation therapy to the head, neck, or chest during infancy, childhood, or adolescence are reported. In these individuals, the presenting abnormality was a nodule of the thyroid gland, which was found to be benign at surgery. All patients were subsequently found to harbor a malignant lesion of the contralateral lobe. On the basis of this study and the discussion presented, we feel that a total thyroidectomy is the indicated therapeutic procedure in previously radiated patients presenting with a cold nodule.
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012306:Risk; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors