Medical treatments for the management of benign thyroid nodules        ZHAO Yong-ju. Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
Abstract    Most thyroid nodules are cytologically benign and can be managed nonsurgically. Compression related symptoms or cosmetic problems may be indications for surgery. When surgery is contraindicated or refused, several nonsurgical approaches are available including surveillance, iodine supplement, levothyroxine therapy, traditional Chinese medicine，radioiodine treatment, percutaneous ethanol injections and percutaneous laser ablation. Surveillance, iodine supplement and levothyroxine therapy are the main medical treatments.