Risk Stratification and Long-Term Outcome of Benign Thyroid Nodules – An 11-Year Cohort Study
Authors' conclusion
ROM for benign nodules remains considerably low, especially for nodule smaller than 2 cm. Long-term follow-up and repeated FNA and follow-up for BTSC II thyroid nodules without suspicious features should be reconsidered.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with initial benign thyroid nodules, 2010–20141,224 nodules
- Participants
- 1,071 patients
- Outcome
- Change in nodule's risk of malignancy (ROM): malignant pathology or repeated Bethesda III, IV, V or VI cytology
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
ROM · mean follow-up 9.48 ± 1.72 years
Risk of malignancy (ROM), all benign nodules
3.43%
42/1224
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
ROM by nodule size · higher ROM with >2 cm
P < 0.001
Repeat fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and change in nodule size
- Did not significantly change ROM
Malignant nodules with documented size >2 cm
- Nodules >2 cm among 41 malignant nodules
- 33 (80.49%)
Malignancies diagnosed within first 3 years of follow-up
- Cases diagnosed within first 3 years
- 35 (85.37%)
Patients without follow-up
- Patients remaining without follow-up
- 0.65% (7/1071)
Original publication
Risk Stratification and Long-Term Outcome of Benign Thyroid Nodules – An 11-Year Cohort Study. Endocr Pract. Published 25 June 2025. doi:10.
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