Thyroid nodules

Palpable thyroid nodules affect 4-7% of the adult population with female predominance, although it has been predicted that between 40-70% of adults may have clinically undetected nodules only identifiable by ultrasound or autopsy. The vast majority of these nodules are benign, with only 5-10% proving malignant. Clearly therefore surgical excision of all palpable or incidentally detected thyroid nodules would result in large numbers of individuals unnecessarily being exposed to the risks of surgery.

• Congenital anomalies
  • Thyroglossal duct cyst
• Inflammatory Lesions
  • Acute/subacute/chronic thyroiditis
  • Compensatory regenerative nodules
• Hyperplasia
• Neoplasia
  • Benign
  • Malignant