title: [Thyroid nodules: clinical management and differential diagnosis].
abstract: Thyroid nodules are common and are frequently benign. The prevalence of thyroid nodules ranges from 3-7% (palpation) to 50% (ultrasonography). Thyroid cancer occurs in 5-10% of nodules. Thyroid ultrasonography (US) is not a screening test but all patients with palpable thyroid nodule should undergo US examination. US-guided fine-needle aspiration citology (FNC) is recommendend for nodules with suspicious features at US examination or when clinical risk factors occur. A radioisotope scan is useful if the TSH is low or suppressed to detect (benign) functioning nodules.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Oncologico della Svizzera italiana, Medicina nucleare, Bellinzona. luca.giovanella@eoc.ch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giovanella
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology