[Histological and clinical correlations in thyroid pathology]

The cases of 138 patients who underwent, during the last six years, an operation for thyroid affections, have been reviewed in order to compare the definitive histological response with the clinical diagnosis. On the basis of this analysis it was pointed out that, even with the aid of the commonly used diagnostic investigations, it is difficult to get a certain and sure knowledge of the anatomo-pathological picture, before beginning the operation. Furthermore, the definitive histological diagnosis itself may be wrong if it is not based upon the examination of the whole removed tissue, using as many sections as possible.