甲状腺结节很常见，通常无症状，对患者来说常常造成最小的风险。然而，其中有10-15％是恶性的，需要进行诊断评估。治疗医生的首要目标是通过一种成本效益的过程来安全地识别和治疗相关的甲状腺癌。超声是最初结节评估的主要手段，应在怀疑任何甲状腺结节时进行。细针穿刺提供进一步的良恶性细胞学鉴定，通常基于整体风险评估应用于直径大于1-2厘米的结节。报告甲状腺细胞病理学的伯利茅斯系统提供规范化术语，增强了医疗保健提供者和患者之间的沟通。良性细胞学相当精确，而不定细胞学则可能受益于进一步的分子检测应用。甲状腺结节的诊断评估的最终目标是准确鉴别恶性病变，同时避免过度治疗。低风险的甲状腺结节可以在许多患者中进行最小的诊断干预而安全监测。版权所有©2022 Elsevier Ltd.。保留所有权利。

Thyroid nodules are common, usually asymptomatic, and often pose minimal risk to the affected patient. However, 10-15% prove malignant and serve as the rationale for diagnostic assessment. Safely identifying and treating a relevant thyroid cancer through a cost-effective process is the primary goal of the treating practitioner. Ultrasound is the principal means of initial nodule assessment and should be performed when any thyroid nodule is suspected. Fine-needle aspiration provides further cytological determination of benign or malignant disease and is generally applied to nodules larger than 1-2 cm in diameter, on the basis of holistic risk assessment. The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology provides standardised terminology, which enhances communication among health-care providers and patients. Benign cytology is highly accurate, whereas indeterminate cytology could benefit from further application of molecular testing. The ultimate goal of diagnostic assessment of thyroid nodules is to accurately identify malignancy while avoiding overtreatment. Low-risk thyroid nodules can be safely monitored in many patients with minimal diagnostic intervention.Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.