Clinic-Based Decision Making for Head and Neck Endocrine Disease

Abstract

Program Description:

Patients with thyroid and parathyroid disease are commonly encountered in a head and neck surgery practice. While the evaluation and management of many patients is relatively straightforward, others are significantly more complicated. The goal of this session is to discuss complex clinical scenarios encountered in the outpatient clinic. The cost-effective use of diagnostic testing as well as the factors critical in treatment planning will be outlined. The entities reviewed will include: 1) Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) for thyroid nodules; 2) Evaluation and decision for surgery in hyperthyroidism; 3) Surveillance of patients with well differentiated thyroid cancer; 4) Evaluation and decision for surgery in hyperparathyroidism.

Educational Objectives:

1) Describe the appropriate use of FNA biopsy and other diagnostic studies with a focus on patients with suspected or known Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. 2) Interpret the diagnostic evaluation and decision making for patients with functional thyroid disease with a focus on hyperthyroidism. 3) Outline the evaluation and treatment plan for patients’ hyperparathyroidism with a focus on non-localizing disease and recurrent disease.