Soňa Balogová, Marika Vereb, Alexander Škoda, Marek Čambal
The term thyroid nodule refers to local hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy of thyroid gland and covers large spectrum of thyroid disorders. The main pathophysiological mechanism implicated in development of thyroid nodules is the persistent stimulation of thyroid gland by TSH and/or abnormal reactivity of TSH receptor. While clinical, histological and molecular pattern of solitary thyroid nodule is usually uniform, in case of multinodular goitre the combination of hyperfunctioning, hypofunctioning and normofunctioning lesions is often present in the same patient and global thyroid function is determined by their variable functional equilibrium. The aim of the present text is to review current recommendations for differential diagnosis of nodular goitre in adults.