Thyroid — complete assessment

No. More than 90% of nodules are benign. Ultrasound grades the risk (TI-RADS system) and indicates which ones need a fine-needle biopsy. Most are simply followed over time.

For nodules with suspicious ultrasound features (TI-RADS 4 or 5) or nodules ≥ 1–1.5 cm with risk criteria, following the guidelines of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SBEM).

Yes — it is one of the cancers with the best prognosis. Differentiated types (papillary and follicular), the most common ones, have 10-year survival above 90%. Treatment involves surgery, sometimes radioactive iodine, and follow-up with TSH and thyroglobulin.

Yes, but modestly. Hypothyroidism usually causes a 2–4 kg gain from fluid retention and a slower metabolism. Significant obesity is rarely explained by the thyroid alone.

Not as population screening. It is indicated when there is a palpable nodule, an abnormal TSH, a family history of thyroid cancer, previous neck irradiation or an incidental finding on another imaging test.