Guideline 'Differentiated thyroid carcinoma', including diagnosis of thyroid nodules

- Differentiated thyroid carcinoma is a rare disease. Appropriate diagnosis, treatment and follow-up are complex but greatly influence treatment outcomes and patient quality of life. - Patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma present in many hospitals throughout the Netherlands, underscoring the need for uniformity in diagnosis and treatment. - This prompted the Dutch Society of Nuclear Medicine and the Dutch Endocrine Society to develop an evidence-based guideline that emphasises not only new scientific developments but also the organisation of care. - Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) assessment and fine needle aspiration cytology play a central role in the diagnostic assessment of a patient with a thyroid nodule. - Ablation of residual thyroid tissue with radioiodine (I-131) is recommended for all patients who have undergone total thyroidectomy. - Follow-up protocols distinguish between patients with a low risk of thyroid-carcinoma recurrence and those with a non-low risk of recurrence