Diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodule: standard discussion / 中华内分泌外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the standard diagnosis and treatment for thyroid nodule.Methods 2 581 patients with thyroid nodule from 2005 to 2009 were studied.Common methods of examination and treatment were analyzed to avoid over-examination and over-treatment.Results 90%of the patients underwent ultrasound examination with a 92.9%sensitivity and 44.3%specificity when there were two or more risk characters.All patients underwent certain kinds of surgery according to their clinical conditions.The recurrence rate was 4%two and half years after lateral thyroid adenectomy or thyroid surgery without excision of thyroid isthmus.Conclusions There are many approaches to thyroid nodule examination and treatment,in which ultrasound is recommended for preoperative examination because of its higher sensitivity,specificity and lower cost,and surgery is still the most useful and effective treatment.Choosing the proper method for thyroid nodule diagnosis and treatment is the key point to avoid over-examination and over-treatment.