Promising molecular techniques for discriminating among follicular thyroid neoplasms

To guide the extent of thyroidectomy for indeterminate follicular neoplasm (FN), clinicians have long sought ways to differentiate follicular adenoma from carcinoma pre- or intraoperatively. Several promising molecular techniques have recently appeared including loss of heterozygosity analysis and molecular profiling microarray analysis. These new tools may also prove useful in determining prognosis, thus and allow a paradigm change in current management of the thyroid nodule.