3
Diagnosis
Figure 1. Initial Management for Nonfunctioning Benign
Thyroid Nodules
Benign Non-functioning Thyroid Nodule
(cytologic and radiographic)
Asymptomatic
Observation
Surgery
Ethanol
ablation
Thermal
ablation
Pure cyst
Ethanol
ablation alone
OR
Ethanol
ablation
followed
by thermal
ablation
Observation
Solid or
complex
nodule
Any
composition
and patient
desires
upfront
definitive
management
Patient
desires
intervention?
YES NO
>20% solid
component
Symptomatic
or cosmetic
concern
Predominantly
cystic (<20%
solid)
