The management of differentiated thyroid cancer in Europe in 1988. Results of an international survey.

In order to know how thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancers are investigated and treated in 1988, an international inquiry was performed by mean of a questionnaire based on a well-defined case report of a 35-year-old female with a solitary small thyroid nodule. Clinicians were asked to indicate their diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the reported case and to some variations. Analysis of the 157 responses from thyroid experts showed that three in vitro tests (sensitive-TSH, free T4 and total T4) and three in vivo tests (99mTc or radioiodide scintiscan, fine needle aspiration and ultrasonography) were performed most frequently.