The incidence of thyroid cancer has increased significantly in recent years, so what is causing the increase? Udelsman R in the USA recently did some interesting research and published it in Thyroid. They investigated the correlation between the increased incidence of thyroid cancer and the number of local endocrinologists, general surgeons, and neck ultrasound physicians. The results found that the increase in thyroid cancer incidence was more significant in areas with more endocrinologists and neck sonographers. 57% of the regional variation in the incidence of male patients with thyroid cancer and 49% of the regional variation in the incidence of female patients with thyroid cancer could be explained by the number of endocrinologists and neck sonographers. The authors conclude that the increased incidence of thyroid cancer is due to an increase in the detection of occult lesions in the past, and that the increased detection leading to treatment including surgical treatment and radiotherapy may be of little significance.