[Oncocytoma of the thyroid gland]

The Huerthle cell tumor is quite frequent in southern Germany; this is shown by examinations of patients from our field hospital for nuclear medicine. Our findings conclude with data presented by Galvan (Salzburg). The certainly quite short observation period shows that Huerthle cell adenomas occur much more frequent than carcinomas, when a Huerthle cell neoplasm is diagnosed cytologically. Our investigations show, that Huerthle cell tumors of the thyroid gland are a not wellknown and rare disease, which necessitates a clear decision as result of the cytological finding as far as necessary surgical measures are concerned. This is probably the only way to improve the efficiency of measures for early diagnosis and treatment of tumors of the thyroid gland. Considering the want of clearness which still exists referring to the dignity of Huerthle cell tumors in our opinion even cases which had been diagnosed as adenomas histologically should be controlled regularly once a year during an observation period of ten years.