Diagnosis and treatment of differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. Historically, the diagnosis has been made via fine-needle aspiration cytology; however, molecular marker analysis, particularly in indeterminate specimens, is beginning to play a more prominent role. Once the diagnosis of thyroid cancer is established, patients should undergo preoperative ultrasound evaluation followed by appropriate surgical resection, radioiodine ablation, and thyrotropin suppression. After the initial treatment, patients must be monitored regularly for recurrent disease utilizing clinical examination, thyroglobulin measurement, and radiological imaging.