Minimally-invasive treatments for benign thyroid nodules: recommendations for information to patients and referring physicians by the Italian Minimally-Invasive Treatments of the Thyroid group
Giovanni Mauri, Stella Bernardi, Andrea Palermo, Roberto Cesareo, the Italian Minimally-Invasive Treatments of the Thyroid group, Enrico Papini, Luigi Solbiati, Daniele Barbaro, Salvatore Monti, Maurilio Deandrea, Laura Fugazzola, Giovanni Gambelunghe, Roberto Negro, Stefano Spiezia, Fulvio Stacul, Luca Maria Sconfienza, Marco Cavallaro, Gaetano Achille, Vito Cantisani, Luca Cozzaglio, Anna Crescenzi, Francesco De Cobelli, R Garberoglio, Gioacchino Giugliano, Luca Persani, Bruno Raggiunti, Ettore Seregni, Dominique Van Doorne, Andrea Frasoldati, Chiara Carzaniga, Celestino Pio Lombardi, Giampaolo Papi, Rinaldo Guglielmi, Franco Orsi, Rosa Cervelli, Chiara Barbieri, Pierpaolo Trimboli, Dario Monzani
Abstract
PURPOSE: In this paper, the members of the Italian Working Group on Minimally-Invasive Treatments of the Thyroid (MITT group) aim to summarize the most relevant information that could be of help to referring physicians and that should be provided to patients when considering the use of MITT for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. METHODS: An interdisciplinary board of physicians with specific expertise in the management of thyroid nodules was appointed by the Italian MITT Group. A systematic literature search was performed, and an evidence-based approach was used, including also the knowledge and the practical experience of the panelists to develop the paper. RESULTS: The paper provides a list of questions that are frequently asked by patients to operators performing MITT, each with a brief and detailed answer and more relevant literature references to be consulted. CONCLUSIONS: This paper summarizes the most relevant information to be provided to patients and general practitioners/referring physicians about the use of MITT for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules.