Thyroid disease: a guide for the head and neck surgeon.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Head and neck surgeons increasingly manage thyroid disease.
• Existing surgical knowledge is adequate, but understanding of thyroid physiology and patient evaluation requires improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a foundational understanding of thyroid physiology and disease for head and neck surgeons.
• To review diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for common thyroid conditions.

Main Methods:

• Review of thyroid physiology.
• Discussion of diagnostic tests for thyroid function.
• Overview of thyroiditis, thyroid carcinomas, and nodules.
• Summary of medical and surgical treatment modalities.

Main Results:

• Detailed review of thyroid physiology and function testing.
• Comprehensive overview of thyroiditis, thyroid carcinomas, and nodules, including signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings.
• Discussion of both medical and surgical management options for various thyroid disorders.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing surgeons' knowledge of thyroid physiology and patient evaluation is critical.
• This review offers basic knowledge for managing thyroid disease, not advanced expertise.