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Endocrine Neoplasia pp 23–34Cite as

Evaluation of the Thyroid Nodule

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Part of the book series: Cancer Treatment and Research ((CTAR,volume 153))

Abstract

Thyroid nodules are very common in the general population. The prevalence of palpable thyroid nodules is only approximately 4–7%, but the prevalence of ultrasound–detectable nodules is between 19 and 67% [1]. Twenty to forty–eight percent of patients with apparently solitary thyroid nodules palpated on physical exam will have additional sonographically detectable nodules [2,3]. Thyroid nodules are more common in women than in men by a ratio of about 4 to 1, and increase in frequency with age and with decreasing iodine intake 4]. Thyroid nodules are also more common in patients who have a history of head and neck irradiation, developing at a rate of about 2% per year compared with 0.1% per year in patients without a history of significant radiation exposure [5].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Endocrine Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N. St. Clair St, Suite 650, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Dina M. Elaraj

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  1. Dina M. Elaraj
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Correspondence to Dina M. Elaraj .

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  1. Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, E. Huron St. 201, Chicago, 60611, U.S.A.

    Cord Sturgeon

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Elaraj, D.M. (2010). Evaluation of the Thyroid Nodule. In: Sturgeon, C. (eds) Endocrine Neoplasia. Cancer Treatment and Research, vol 153. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0857-5_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0857-5_2

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