ABSTRACT
With the widespread use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET/CT) in the investigation and staging of cancers, incidental discovery of FDG-avid thyroid nodules is becoming increasingly common, with a reported incidence in the range 1%-4% of FDG PET/CT scans. The risk of malignancy in an incidentally discovered FDG avid thyroid nodule is not clear due to selection bias in reported retrospective series but is likely to be less than 15%. Even in cases where the nodule is found to be malignant, the majority will be differentiated thyroid cancers with an excellent prognosis even without treatment. If, due to index cancer diagnosis, age and co-morbidities, it is unlikely that the patient will survive 5 years, further investigation of an incidental FDG avid thyroid nodule is unlikely to be warranted. We provide a consensus statement on the circumstances in which further investigation of FDG avid thyroid nodules with ultrasound and fine needle aspiration might be appropriate.
ABSTRACT
This competency framework was developed by a working group of endocrine specialist nurses with the support of the Society for Endocrinology to enhance the clinical care that adults with an endocrine disorder receive. Nurses should be able to demonstrate that they are functioning at an optimal level in order for patients to receive appropriate care. By formulating a competency framework from which an adult endocrine nurse specialist can work, it is envisaged that their development as professional practitioners can be enhanced. This is the second edition of the Competency Framework for Adult Endocrine Nursing. It introduces four new competencies on benign adrenal tumours, hypo- and hyperparathyroidism, osteoporosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. The authors and the Society for Endocrinology welcome constructive feedback on the document, both nationally and internationally, in anticipation that further developments and ideas can be incorporated into future versions.