[Diagnosis and therapy of thyroid nodules]

Thyroid nodules and goitre can be diagnosed in up to 50% in populations living in iodine deficiency areas. Because of the necessity to exclude malignancy they therefore represent a significant diagnostic and economic problem. Sonography as well as TSH determination are the basic constituents of any thyroid diagnostic work up. Thyroid scintigraphy should be performed with any solitary thyroid nodule >10 mm if the scintigraphic result (together with the sonographic result) is likely to influence the treatment. Except of hot nodules any thyroid nodule should be evaluated by fine needle aspiration biopsy. Because of the lack of controlled studies including sufficient numbers of patients, there is a lack of evidence for some aspects of our everyday clinical practice. The aim of this article is therefore to summarize latest results on pathogenesis, diagnostic tools and recommendations concerning therapy and follow up.