Analysis of thyroid carcinoma in patients with cold thyroid nodules: a review

It is generally accepted that the risk of thyroid carcinoma is more likely when solitary cold nodules are seen on a thyroid scan, while the presence of thyroid carcinoma in hyperfunctioning nodules has been found to be quite rare. This article attempts to establish the incidence of thyroid carcinoma in patients with solitary cold nodules on thyroid scans. The records of 110 consecutive patients who underwent thyroidectomy procedures were reviewed. Of 53 patients with solitary cold nodules, nine had carcinoma, an incidence of 17 percent.