ABSTRACT
The role of imaging in thyroid cancer is determined to a large extent by the histology of the tumor. Different histological types behave very differently in their tendency to metastasize or to involve regional lymph nodes. In the great majority of cases, patients present with a clinically solitary thyroid nodule. As the overwhelming majority of thyroid nodules are benign, a major role of imaging lies in attempting to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. In the past, reliance was placed on radionuclide imaging to make a distinction, although recent practice has been increasingly to proceed to fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). As metastases are relatively infrequent and, as in most cases, the primary tumor has to be removed, preoperative staging is seldom exhaustive. Nevertheless, imaging does play an important role following thyroidectomy.
