MANAGEMENT OF THYROID-NODULES SUPPOSED TO BE MALIGNANT DURING PREGNANCY

Guidelines for the management of thyroid nodules supposed to be malign ant during pregnancy have not yet been established. We recommend perfo rmance of fine needle biopsy in thyroid nodules having developed durin g pregnancy, and in preexisting thyroid nodules suspicious of being ma lignant, respectively. According to literature, surgical intervention in case of papillary carcinoma can be postponed to a timepoint soon af ter delivery. Regarding the management of follicular or medullary canc er, sufficient data are not available. In threatening cases, i.e. in c ase of rapid growth of the nodule(s) or suspected high malignancy, sur gery can be done at any time. Nevertheless, pregnancy itself neither s eems to promote growth of thyroid cancer nor to have any impact on the dignity of cancer.