Terminology
Our terminology incorporates all types of thyroid cancer listed in American and European classifications. The terms used in the different thyroid clinics have been correlated.
Geographic Pathology
The incidence of the different goiter types is given for American and European localities. Papillary carcinoma is the commonest type in America, but rare in Switzerland. Proliferant adenoma is the commonest type in Switzerland, but almost unknown in America.
Frequency, Age, and Weight
Our 206 cases were found in 3,029 goiter operations, giving a percentage of 6.8; 13.8% of the solitary adenomas were malignant, but only 1.1% of diffuse goiters.The average age was lower in the less malignant types than in highly malignant goiters (45 vs. 56 years).The weight of the surgical specimens was three times as much in highly malignant goiters as in less malignant (140 vs. 53 gm.).
Preoperative Diagnosis
Cancer was suspected in 14.3% of thyroid cancer