[Thermographic investigations of thyroid foci (author's transl)]

Thyroid foci showing uptake on scintigraphy were examined by thermography and compared with foci showing no uptake. The following results were obtained: 1. One fifth of scintigraphically "cold" foci were also cold on the thermogram. 2. Two thirds to four fifths of foci showing scintigraphic uptake appeared as warm spots on the thermogram. 3. 10% of foci showing no uptake appeared as thermographic circumscribed hot spots. The combination of findings in "3" is suspicious of malignancy and this justifies the use of thermography in addition to scintigraphy and cytology.