title: [Do not always puncture a thyroid nodule].
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.
authors.affiliation: Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, Groningen.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dorgelo
authors.forename: Johannes  W A
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Thera  P
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Links
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019468:Disease Management; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011677:Punctures; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures; D057832:Watchful Waiting