A New Algorithm in the Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules

Abstract

The most important problems in the follow-up of thyroid nodules are missing cancer cases or performing unnecessary thyroidectomy. The aim of this study is to create a more sensitive, risk free and cost-effective algorithm in the follow-up of thyroid nodules. For this purpose, the current methods used in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules were examined in our study. As a method to achieve our aim in our study; based on the results of current studies on this subject, noninvasive serum molecular marker diagnosis methods, which have been shown to be superior to invasive biopsy methods in the diagnosis of thyroid cancers in terms of sensitivity, risk and cost, were given priority over invasive biopsy methods in the algorithm and as a result, in this new algorithm; it has been demonstrated that the possibility of missed thyroid cancer cases may be less, and unnecessary surgeries can be prevented at a lower cost. However, to come to a definitive conclusion about this, our model should be applied in large case series and results should be compared with others.