The single thyroid nodule and carcinoma

Abstract

A review of 568 cases of single thyroid nodule operated upon during the period 1960–72 is presented. Females were more frequently affected than males, the ratio being 8.6:1. The right lobe was more frequently involved (57.6 per rent) than the left. The nodules in our series were classified according to the scintiscan findings as follows: cold 466 cases (82 per cent), warm 32 cases (5.6 per cent) and hot or toxic 70 cases (12.4 per cent). The incidence of carcinoma was 12 per cent and 6.2 per cent in cold and warm nodules respectively. No malignancy was found in either hot nodules or toxic adenomas. The incidence of carcinoma was higher in male patients and significantly higher in patients of over 60 years.