The Solitary Thyroid Nodule

Abstract

The records of all patients who underwent thyroidectomy (412) from 1966 through 1971 were reviewed. Two hundred two patients were operated on for the presence of a nontoxic, clinically solitary nodule. Carcinoma was diagnosed in 58 of 202 patients (28.7%). In all patients under the age of 40 years, the incidence of malignancy was 35.7%. Based on a review of all clinical criteria, it is concluded that there are no findings or diagnostic studies currently available which are sufficiently specific to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. Because of the high incidence of malignancy (28.7%) in clinically solitary nodules, all such lesions should be removed by excision of the involved thyroid lobe followed by frozen section examination and definitive treatment.