[Management of suspected malignant nodular goiter in pregnancy]

Guidelines for the management of thyroid nodules supposed to be malignant during pregnancy have not yet been established. We recommend performance of fine needle biopsy in thyroid nodules having developed during pregnancy, and in preexisting thyroid nodules suspicious of being malignant, respectively. According to literature, surgical intervention in case of papillary carcinoma can be postponed to a timepoint soon after delivery. Regarding the management of follicular or medullary cancer, sufficient data are not available. In threatening cases, i.e. in case of rapid growth of the nodule(s) or suspected high malignancy, surgery can be done at any time. Nevertheless, pregnancy itself neither seems to promote growth of thyroid cancer nor to have any impact on the dignity of cancer.