[Rational diagnosis of thyroid gland diseases]

The recommendations for the diagnosis of diseases of the thyroid gland issued seven years ago by the Thyroid Gland Section of the German Society of Endocrinology continue to apply, and are still relevant. On this basis, the main procedures available for effective and rational diagnostic evaluation are discussed. Depending upon the case history and clinical findings, a diagnostic strategy is developed for the most common benign diseases of the thyroid gland.