CLINICAL THYROIDOLOGY FOR PATIENTS
A publication of the American Thyroid Association
Summaries for Patients from Clinical Thyroidology (from recent articles in Clinical Thyroidology)
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THYROID CANCER
The risk of cancer increases when a thyroid nodule is larger then 2cm
ABBREVIATIONS & DEFINITIONS
Thyroid nodule: an abnormal growth of thyroid cells that forms a lump within the thyroid. While most thyroid nodules are non-cancerous (Benign), ~5% are cancerous.
Papillary thyroid cancer: the most common type of thyroid cancer.
BACKGROUND
Thyroid nodules are very common, occurring in up to 50% of the population over 60 years old. Many of these nodules are small (
THE FULL ARTICLE TITLE:
Kamran SC et al. Thyroid nodule size and prediction of cancer. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2013;98:564-70. Epub December 28, 2012; doi: 10.1210/jc.2012-2968.
SUMMARY OF THE STUDY
At total of 7348 thyroid nodules greater then 1 cm from the records of 4955 consecutive patients referred to a single hospital for evaluation of thyroid nodules from 1995-2009 were studied. A total of 49% of the nodules were between 1 to 1.9 cm, 27% between 2 to 2.9 cm, 14% between 3 to 3.9cm and 11% were greater than 4cm. Based on the findings at surgery, 13% of the nodules were cancers and of these, papillary thyroid cancer was the most common type (86%). A diagnosis of cancer was made in 10.5% of nodules measuring 1 – 1.9 cm. The risk of cancer increased to 15% of nodules greater than 2 cm. In nodules that were larger than this 2 cm threshold, the cancer risk was unchanged. However, the proportion of rarer types of thyroid cancer such as follicular and Hurthle cell cancer did progressively increase with .increasing nodule size.
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS STUDY?
This is the largest study to date correlating thyroid nodule size and the risk of cancer. This study shows that nodules >2 cm hold a higher risk of cancer than cancers
— Philip Segal, MD
ATA THYROID BROCHURE LINKS
Thyroid cancer: http://www.thyroid.org/cancer-of-the-thyroid-gland
Thyroid Nodules: http://www.thyroid.org/what-are-thyroid-nodules
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