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Thyroid nodules are commonly found in patients by primary care providers, either by physical exam or incidentally by a variety of imaging studies. Fortunately, the vast majority of thyroid nodules are benign, however as primary care providers we need to be comfortable in evaluating them to rule out the possibility that they represent a thyroid cancer. Joining us is Dr. Jan Kasperbauer, an otolaryngologist at the Mayo Clinic. We discuss risk factors for thyroid cancer, how a primary care provider should evaluate and manage patients with thyroid nodules, various types of thyroid cancer, and treatment options as well as the recommended follow-up for patients with thyroid cancer.

Specific topics discussed:
•    Risk factors for thyroid cancer
•    Detecting thyroid cancers
•    How primary care provider should evaluate and manage patients with thyroid nodules
•    Review of the various types of thyroid cancer
•    Treatment options for thyroid cancer
•    Recommendations for primary care providers in following patients with treated thyroid cancer

Additional resources:
•    Classification for risk stratification and follow up recommendations: Grant, EG, et al. Thyroid ultrasound reporting lexicon: white paper of the ACR thyroid imaging, reporting and data system (TIRADS) committee. J Am Coll Radiol. 2015 Dec; 12(12): 1272-1279. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2015.07.011