[Surgical indications in struma nodules].

From 1980 to 1985 1,839 patients with thyroid nodules were investigated. 98% of them showed ultrasonic patterns of either echo-poor or complex structures, 85% of the nodules were scintigraphically cold, in 10% (n = 182) cytological findings were positive or at least suspect. Of these 182 patients 60 underwent operation, whereas 122 were followed up continuously. In 35 of 60 patients operated histological examination confirmed thyroid carcinomas. The combination of echo-poor, cold nodules and cytological positive or suspect findings urgently requires operation.