Thyroid Nodules and Thyroid Malignancy

Abstract

Approximately 75% of the tumors considered clinically malignant proved to be histologically malignant. Of the clinically benign, but symptomatic lesions, 12% proved to be malignant. However, only 3.4% of the clinically benign, asymptomatic lesions were malignant. This represented two cases in a total of 58. Both of these were papillary adenocarcinomas. It is concluded that the risk of delaying surgery in patients with asymptomatic, clinically benign thyroid tumors is small, and that a trial of desiccated thyroid extract is justified in these cases.