• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • 2MM Podcast
  • Write for us
  • Contact Us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan+
  • Classics™+
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan+
  • Classics™+
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Chronic Disease

No long-term follow-up for benign thyroid nodules

bys25qthea
May 9, 2013
in Chronic Disease, Oncology, Surgery
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Image: PD

1. Ultrasound (US) follow-up for longer than three years did not yield increased cancer detection after a benign fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of a thyroid nodule. 

2. Patients with a benign biopsy who were followed for longer than three years had significantly more ultrasounds and FNAs. 

Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good) 

Study Rundown: The American Thyroid Association (ATA) recommends, after an initial detection of a benign nodule, that ultrasound be repeated at varying intervals and then every three to five years to detect any changes. This retrospective analysis demonstrated no improvement in malignancy detection with follow up longer than three years. Additionally, patients underwent significantly more timely and costly procedures. Although this well-designed study demonstrates significant and possibly practice-changing results, it is limited by its restriction to one cancer center and its small sample size. FNA has a false-negative rate that is reported to be as high as 12% in some studies, and its quality is dependent on the skills of the aspirator and pathologist. Because of this, it is likely that a long-established cancer center like MD Anderson has a much lower false-negative rate and thus a smaller percentage of missed malignancies possible to catch on follow-up. 

Journal of the American College of Surgeons

RELATED REPORTS

Structured exercise intervention improves survival in colon cancer patients

2 Minute Medicine: Pharma Roundup – Gastric Immunotherapy Gains, Prostate Pill Expansion, Five-Minute Myeloma Dosing, and Streamlined CAR-T Access [July 8th 2025]

Tumor-infiltrating clonal hematopoiesis is associated with NSCLC recurrence

Relevant Reading: Current Guidelines for the Management of Thyroid Nodules

In-Depth [retrospective cohort study]: This study looked at 738 patients treated at MD Anderson between 1998 to 2009 with a benign US-guided FNA of a thyroid nodule. Most were middle aged (median age was 50), female (4:1 women to men ration) and found to have a palpable nodule. Those who did not have surgery immediately following their biopsy and had at least one follow-up at the institution were split into at short-term follow-up group (<3 years) that consisted of 226 patients and a long-term follow-up group (3 or more years) of 140 patients. The long-term group had significantly more ultrasounds (p <0.01) and more repeat FNAs (p < 0.01). The number of nodules surgically resected (p = 0.25) and found to be malignant (p > 0.99) was similar between the two cohorts. Only three malignancies were found: one in a patient who was operated on immediately after FNA and two in the short-term follow-up group.

By Asya Ofshteyn and Allen Ho

More from this author:  Patient satisfaction a poor surgical quality indicator, Liver transplant prolongs life in metastatic colorectal cancer,  Pediatric post-operative intussusception more common in open surgery,  CTA as an alternative to angiography for blunt cerebrovascular trauma detection, Low infection risk with neurologic endovascular procedures, Post-operative PTSD intervention improves physical outcomes in trauma patients

© 2013 2minutemedicine.com. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without written consent from 2minutemedicine.com. Disclaimer: We present factual information directly from peer reviewed medical journals. No post should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2minutemedicine.com. PLEASE SEE A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IN YOUR AREA IF YOU SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE OF ANY SORT. Content is produced in accordance with fair use copyrights solely and strictly for the purpose of teaching, news and criticism. No benefit, monetary or otherwise, is realized by any participants or the owner of this domain.  

Tags: cancerhealthnoduleoncologythyroidthyroid cancerultrasound
Previous Post

Prophylactic platelet transfusions prevent bleeding in hematologic cancers

Next Post

Sleeve gastrectomy surgery linked to more weight loss than lap-band

RelatedReports

Development of a risk index for colorectal cancer screening
Gastroenterology

Structured exercise intervention improves survival in colon cancer patients

July 9, 2025
2 Minute Medicine: Pharma Roundup: Price Hikes, Breakthrough Approvals, Legal Showdowns, Biotech Expansion, and Europe’s Pricing Debate [May 12nd, 2025]
Pharma

2 Minute Medicine: Pharma Roundup – Gastric Immunotherapy Gains, Prostate Pill Expansion, Five-Minute Myeloma Dosing, and Streamlined CAR-T Access [July 8th 2025]

July 8, 2025
Lessons from real-world implementation of lung cancer screening
Oncology

Tumor-infiltrating clonal hematopoiesis is associated with NSCLC recurrence

July 7, 2025
All Specialties

Minimally invasive surgery is beneficial for epithelial ovarian cancer 

July 4, 2025
Next Post
Sleeve gastrectomy surgery linked to more weight loss than lap-band

Sleeve gastrectomy surgery linked to more weight loss than lap-band

Exercise associated with decreased breast cancer risk

Exercise associated with decreased breast cancer risk

Slowdown in healthcare costs linked to economic and clinical factors

Slowdown in healthcare costs linked to economic and clinical factors

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • #VisualAbstract: Obicetrapib Reduced LDL Cholesterol in Patients at High Cardiovascular Risk
  • St. Louis hospital-based violence intervention program did not significantly affect reinjury outcomes
  • Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists may increase risk of reflux in patients with type 2 diabetes
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • All Specialties, All Recent Reports
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Pharma
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • AI Roundup
  • Pharma
  • The Scan
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Podcasts
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
No Result
View All Result

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.