The treatment of nodular goiter.

Abstract

THE clinical course of nodular goiter is varied. The thyroid nodule may remain unchanged for long periods of time; it may grow and exert pressure on neighboring structures; it may degenerate or be the site of hemorrhage; it may be neoplastic and infiltrate adjacent tissues or metastasize; rarely it may hyperfunction within itself, or, more commonly, be associated with perinodular hyperfunction; and, very infrequently, it will spontaneously disappear. Single or multiple nodules which produce pressure or which become associated with thyrotoxicosis are readily treated by thyroidectomy. Those nodules which are suspected of malignancy because of recent growth or unusual firmness are similarly best treated by thyroidectomy. The treatment of single or multiple nodules which are entirely asymptomatic remains controversial. The purpose of this report is to present an analysis of our experience in the treatment of nodular goiter, and a discussion of its significance in the early diagnosis and treatment of thyroid c...