Follicular neoplasms: The role for observation, fine needle aspiration biopsy, thyroid suppression, and surgery

The diagnosis and management of follicular carcinoma of the thyroid gland r emains a controversial topic. Fine needle aspiration, although very sensiti ve with other types of thyroid cancer, has limited accuracy with follicular lesions. The role of suppression combined with observation has yet to gain widespread acceptance. The extent of surgical excision of follicular carci noma also raises several competing views. The goal of this review is to add ress these issues and present an algorithm for the management of follicular neoplasms of the thyroid. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.