title: Diagnosis of thyroid cancer: state of art.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer in the USA and its incidence is increasing worldwide. Thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) and cytologic analysis is the most cost-effective approach to distinguish between malignant and benign thyroid nodules. However, up to 30% of thyroid FNA biopsy results are inconclusive.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this article, the authors provide an update on the current status and emerging approaches for improving thyroid cancer diagnosis. This review covers imaging, genetic and genomic approaches being used or in development to help distinguish between malignant and benign thyroid nodules.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There has been considerable progress in improving thyroid cancer diagnosis. The molecular markers analysis to avoid diagnostic surgeries seems to be promising. However, the clinical utility and accuracy of some markers reported in this review are not conclusive and need to be validated as clinical diagnostic tool.
authors.affiliation: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Endocrine Oncology Branch, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Myriem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boufraqech
authors.forename: Dhaval
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Electron
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kebebew
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor