CONSENSUS ON CURRENT GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THYROID CANCER

British Thyroid Association Guidelines for the management of thyroid cancer (third edition) was published recently (July 2014). The most common presentation of thyroid cancer is a newly discovered thyroid nodule or increase in size of a preexisting nodule. The long-term outcome of patients treated effectively for differentiated thyroid carcinoma is usually favorable. Nine per cent of patients with a diagnosis of thyroid cancer die of their disease. All patients with thyroid cancer should be seen within a multidisciplinary team (MDT) framework. Supra-physiological doses of levothyroxine are used to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer recurrence. The surgeon should have training and expertise in the management of thyroid cancer and be a core member of the MDT. Tumor recurrence or progression can be diagnosed earlier by detecting a raised serum thyroglobulin (Tg) after TSH stimulation (sTg) than by measurement of Tg on suppressive levothyroxine therapy.