Der Schilddrüsenknoten – medikamentöse Therapie der benignen Knotenstruma

Abstract

Benign thyroid nodules are common in iodine deficient countries like Germany. Current standard treatment of iodine deficient goiter is oral iodine and or levothyroxine but solid evidence on which to base dosage and duration of treatment is still missing. Recent studies have addressed a new pathogenic concept of a true neoplasia in thyroid nodules. Based on the pathogenesis, the effectiveness of thyroid hormone suppressive therapy in reducing volume of benign thyroid nodules is a matter of controversy since many years. It is necessary to clarify this therapeutic effect, because its use needs to be carefully weight against its potential deleterious effects in the skeletal and cardiovascular system e. g. in elderly patients. Iodine deficient goiter is the best option for medical treatment. Benign thyroid nodules displayed a slow but continous growth during long-term follow up. Treatment with levothyroxine and/ or iodide did not significantly influence growth of nodules. From a therapeutic point of view, prevention of thyroid nodules in iodine deficient countries needs an early and different strategy than the therapy of existing nodules.