Thyroid cancer – principles in diagnosis and treatment according to current Recommendations of Polish Group in the matter of Neuroendocrine Tumours

Thyroid nodules are detected frequently. The diagnostic strategy has been modified and now includes the widespread use of fine-needle aspiration biopsy, ultrasonography and calcitonin measurement. Most thyroid nodules are benign lesions. Thyroid carcinoma is now diagnosed at an earlier stage. Thyroid carcinoma is rare among human malignancies (<1%) but is the most frequent endocrine cancer, accounting for about 5% of thyroid nodules. More than 75% of malignant nodules are differentiated thyroid cancer of the follicular epithelium (papillary and follicular). The other types of thyroid cancer are far rarer. They can be classified as anaplastic carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma or other rare types, including primary thyroid lymphoma. Thyroid carcinoma requires a multidisciplinary approach, including a highly-trained general or head and throat surgeon, endocrinologist, nuclear medicine specialist or medical oncologist with the support of an experienced cytopathologist, pathologist, radiologist, oncologists and a medical physicist. This article, based on Polish recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer, summarizes management strategy for a disease which albeit having an intrinsic low mortality, requires life-long follow-up care.