[Goitres with "cold" nodules in an endemic goitre area (author's transl)]

Of 339 goitres with "cold" nodules 17.7% were histologically malignant. Related to all cold nodules which were examined, this suggest a "true" malignancy rate of nodules of about 0.4%. The risk of malignancy is highest in patients over 60 years of age. The malignancy rate was high, at 23%, in cold nodules of recurrent goitres. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy pre-operatively will correctly diagnose over 90% of malignant nodules.