Diagnostic studies of thyroid cancer

Patient with goiter usually has benign disease. While investigation is important, clinical factors weight heavily in the diagnosis of cancer. Aside from serum calcitonin and CEA, biochemical findings are of little help. Radioisotope scanning is of fundamental importance and has an implication in history. Ultrasonography has a diminishing role although its use has led to the widespread acceptance of needle aspiration. Needle aspiration cytology is now the most important maneuver in preoperative assessment and management of the goiter patient. Its results permit refined operative selection, the institution of safe conservative management, and greater organization in surgical treatment. Persistent cooperation between clinician and pathologist can yield a high rate of the reliable preoperative cytological diagnosis obtained by needle aspiration.