endocrine and metabolic disorders
Approach to the Patient With a Thyroid Nodule
Introduction
Thyroid nodules are benign or malignant growths within the thyroid gland. They are common, increasingly so with increasing age. (See also Overview of Thyroid Function .) The reported incidence of thyroid nodules varies with the method of assessment. In middle-aged and older patients, palpation reveals nodules in about 5%. Results of ultrasonography and autopsy studies suggest that nodules are present in about 50%of older adults. Many nodules are found incidentally on head and neck imaging studies done for other disorders. 