Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

History and Examination for Thyroid Nodules

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Thyroid Nodules

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

Abstract

Taking a proper history and physical exam is critical to all aspects of medicine. They allow for a better understanding of key signs and symptoms which, with the appreciation of normal anatomy and physiology, help diagnose, treat, and monitor patients with appropriate tests and exams. As the largest gland in the neck, the thyroid possesses key roles in normal body physiology, including the regulation of heart rate, body temperature, linear growth, and metabolism. Here we discuss our approach to a patient who presents with, or is suspected of having, a thyroid nodule.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Lydiatt DD, Bucher GS. Historical vignettes of the thyroid gland. Clin Anat. 2011;24(1):1–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Kratzsch J, Pulzer F. Thyroid gland development and defects. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;22(1):57–75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Trueba SS, Augé J, Mattei G, Etchevers H, Martinovic J, Czernichow P, Vekemans M, Polak M, Attié-Bitach T. PAX8, TITF1, and FOXE1 gene expression patterns during human development: new insights into human thyroid development and thyroid dysgenesis-associated malformations. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005;90(1):455–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kurt A, Ortug C, Aydar Y, Ortug G. An incidence study on thyroglossal duct cysts in adults. Saudi Med J. 2007;28(4):593–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Kim DW, Jung SL, Baek JH, Kim J, Ryu JH, Na DG, Park SW, Kim JH, Sung JY, Lee Y, Rho MH. The prevalence and features of thyroid pyramidal lobe, accessory thyroid, and ectopic thyroid as assessed by computed tomography: a multicenter study. Thyroid. 2013;23(1):84–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ewing CA, Kornblut A, Greeley C, Manz H. Presentations of thyroglossal duct cysts in adults. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 1999;256(3):136–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Bartolotta TV, Midiri M, Runza G, Galia M, Taibbi A, Damiani L, Paalermo-Patera G, Lagalla R. Incidentally discovered thyroid nodules: incidence, and greyscale and colour Doppler pattern in an adult population screened by real-time compound spatial sonography. Radiol Med. 2006;111(7):989–98.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Russ G, Leboulleux S, Leenhardt L, Hegedus L. Thyroid incidentalomas: epidemiology, risk stratification with ultrasound and workup. Eur Thyroid J. 2014;3(3):154–63.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Vander JB, Gaston EA, Dawber TR. The significance of nontoxic thyroid nodules: final report of a 15-year study of the incidence of thyroid malignancy. Ann Intern Med. 1968;69:537–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Tunbridge WM, Evered DC, Hall R, Appleton D, Brewis M, Clark F, et al. The spectrum of thyroid disease in a community: the Whickham survey. Clin Endocrinol. 1977;7(6):481–93.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ezzat S, Sarti DA, Cain DR, Braunstein GD. Thyroid incidentalomas. Prevalence by palpation and ultrasonography. Arch Int Med. 1994;154(16):1838–40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Hegedus L. Clinical practice: the thyroid nodule. N Engl J Med. 2004;351(17):1764–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Rallison ML, Dobyns BM, Keating FR, Rall JE, Tyler FH. Thyroid nodularity in children. JAMA. 1975;233:1060–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Niedziela M. Pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules in children. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2006;13:427–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Smith-Bindman R, Lebda P, Feldstein VA, Sellami D, Goldstein RB, Brasic N, Jin C, Kornak J. Risk of thyroid cancer based on thyroid ultrasound imaging characteristics: results of a population based study. JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(19):1788–96.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Campanella P, Ianni F, Rota CA, Corsello SM, Pontecorvi A. Quantification of cancer risk of each clinical and ultrasonographic suspicious feature of thyroid nodules: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Endocrinol. 2014;170(5):R203–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Kay-Rivest E, Mitmaker E, Payne RJ, Hier MP, Mlynarek AM, Young J, Forest VI. Preoperative vocal cord paralysis and its association with malignant thyroid disease and other pathological features. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;44(1):35.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Avenia N, Vannucci J, Monacelli M, Lucchini R, Polistena A, Santoprete S, Potenza R, Andolfi M, Puma F. Thyroid cancer invading the airway: diagnosis and management. Int J Surg. 2016;28(Supp 1):S75–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Chiacchio S, Lorenzoni A, Boni G, Rubello D, Elisei R, Mariani G. Anaplastic thyroid cancer: prevalence, diagnosis and treatment. Minerva Endocrinol. 2008;33(4):341–57.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Cabanillas ME, McFadden DG, Durante C. Thyroid cancer. Lancet. 2016;388(10061):2783–95.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Fallah M, Pukkala E, Tryggvadottir L, et al. Risk of thyroid cancer in first-degree relatives of patients with nonmedullary thyroid cancer by histology type and age at diagnosis: a joint study from five Nordic countries. J Med Genet. 2013;50:373–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Mazeh H, Sippel RS. Familial nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid. 2013;23:1049–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. BAJ P, Ponder MA, Coffey R, et al. Risk estimation and screening in families of patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma. Lancet. 1988;1:397–401.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Bubien V, Bonnet F, Brouste V, et al. High cumulative risks of cancer in patients with PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome. J Med Genet. 2013;50:255–63.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Half E, Bercovich D, Rozen P. Famillial adenomatous polyposis. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2009;4:22.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Steinhagen E, Guillem JG, Chang G, et al. The prevalence of thyroid cancer and benign disease in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis may be higher than previously recognized. Clin Colorectal Cancer. 2012;11:304–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Herraiz M, Barbesino G, Faquin W, et al. Prevalence of thyroid cancer in familial adenomatous polyposis syndrome and the role of screening ultrasound examinations. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007;5:367–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Sarı S, Erbil Y, Sümer A, Agcaoglu O, Bayraktar A, Issever H, Ozarmagan S. Evaluation of recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring in thyroid surgery. Int J Surg. 2010;8(6):474–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Hone RW, Tikka T, Kaleva AI, Hoey A, Alexander V, Balfour A, Nixon IJ. Analysis of the incidence and factors predictive of inadvertent parathyroidectomy during thyroid surgery. J Laryngol Otol. 2016;130(7):669–73.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Alan A. Parsa MD, FACE

  2. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism and Nutrition, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA

    Hossein Gharib MD, MACP, MACE

Authors
  1. Alan A. Parsa MD, FACE
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hossein Gharib MD, MACP, MACE
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alan A. Parsa MD, FACE .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism and Nutrition, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

    Hossein Gharib

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Parsa, A.A., Gharib, H. (2018). History and Examination for Thyroid Nodules. In: Gharib, H. (eds) Thyroid Nodules. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59474-3_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59474-3_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-59473-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-59474-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation