Thyroxine suppressive therapy in patients with nodular thyroid disease

Article Abstract:

The use of thyroxine suppressive therapy in patients with thyroid nodules does not appear to be effective in shrinking the nodules. Thyroxine is thyroid hormone and it suppresses the production of thyroid stimulating hormone, which stimulates thyroid growth. Researchers evaluated clinical trials of thyroxine suppressive therapy and found that only 10% to 20% of patients with thyroid nodules responded to the treatment. Many nodules disappear spontaneously without treatment. The treatment also does not prevent the formation of new nodules. Long-term treatment can have adverse effects such as osteoporosis and heart disease.

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Thyroid incidentalomas: management approaches to nonpalpable nodules discovered incidentally on thyroid imaging

Article Abstract:

The risk for malignant cancer among patients with incidentalomas seems to be low but routine examination of these patients appears to be advisable. Incidentalomas are thyroid growths incidentally detected by ultrasound but that cannot be felt by touch. Highlights from published studies on incidentalomas over a 15-year period are presented. Ultrasound screens done at autopsy of otherwise normal thyroid glands found that between 30% and 60% had incidentalomas but only 4.2% were malignant. An 11-year study found that only 0.7% of non-cancerous thyroid growths became cancerous.

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Medical treatment of benign thyroid nodules: have we defined a benefit?

Article Abstract:

A recommended strategy for treating patients with benign thyroid nodules is presented. One-third to half of all adults are estimated to have these nodules and 90% are benign. Many nodules are small and may remain a constant size or even become smaller without treatment. The strategy consists of annual examinations for patients with nodules that do not grow larger. Those whose nodules grow larger should be treated with thyroxine to suppress further growth. A needle biopsy can determine if the nodule is malignant. If the nodule continues to grow, surgery may be necessary.

Editorial

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