title: Thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer: update on the Brazilian consensus.
abstract: Thyroid nodules are frequent findings, especially when sensitive imaging methods are used. Although thyroid cancer is relatively rare, its incidence is increasing, particularly in terms of small tumors, which have an uncertain clinical relevance. Most patients with differentiated thyroid cancer exhibit satisfactory clinical outcomes when treatment is appropriate, and their mortality rate is similar to that of the overall population. However, relapse occurs in a considerable fraction of these patients, and some patients stop responding to conventional treatment and eventually die from their disease. Therefore, the challenge is how to identify the individuals who require more aggressive disease management while sparing the majority of patients from unnecessary treatments and procedures. We have updated the Brazilian Consensus that was published in 2007, emphasizing the diagnostic and therapeutic advances that the participants, representing several Brazilian university centers, consider most relevant in clinical practice. The formulation of the present guidelines was based on the participants' experience and a review of the relevant literature.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Endocrinologia e Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa, Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. pedrorosario@globo.com
authors.forename: Pedro Weslley
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Rosário
authors.forename: Laura S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Gisah A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: Rui M B
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.forename: Léa Maria Z
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.forename: Ana Luiza
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaisman
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D000465:Algorithms; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000592:standards; D001938:Brazil; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011300:Preoperative Care; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin