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Minerva Endocrinologica 2008 March;33(1):15-25

Copyright © 2008 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Thyroid nodular disease: an emerging problem

De Martino E., Pirola I., Gandossi E., Delbarba A., Cappelli C.

Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, II Divisione di Medicina Interna ed Endocrinologia Università degli Studi di Brescia, “Spedali Civili” Brescia, Italia

As a consequence of increasing application of ultrasound technology, the detection of asymptomatic thyroid nodules has generally increased. In fact, ultrasound epidemiological studies report that two third of subjects have at least a thyroid nodule, instead of 4-7% detected by clinicians. These evidences suggest the need of a rational approach to the thyroid nodule “epidemia”. The question of whether clinically unapparent thyroid lesions should be assessed by cytology is still unresolved and, moreover, the clinical significance of nonpalpable (diameter <10 mm) thyroid carcinoma is still a matter of discussion. Aim of this work is to delineate a rational approach to thyroid nodules, taking in account literature data, the most recent guidelines and our clinical experience.