Thyroid nodules and thyroid carcinoma

Seventy carcinomas of the thyroid gland were found in 1300 thyroidectomies for an incidence of 5.4%. The incidence of malignancy in single nodules was 9.7% and in multinodular nontoxic goiter 4.3%. The risk of cancer was higher (14.2%) in males than in females (4.3%). The highest incidence of cancer was found in children under the age of 10 (40%). Radioactive iodine scintiscanning was of limited help in differentiating benign from malignant nodules. Early surgery is advised for all patients with single thyroid nodules and all thyroid nodules in children should be excised.