[Comparative evaluation of clinical, radioisotope and histological diagnosis of thyroid gland tumors].

A comparison of clinicoradioisotopic and pathohistological data was carried out in 22 patients. Of these, 19 had euthyroid nodal goitre and 3 thyroid cancer. Cold nodes were revealed in all the patients by means of scanning with 131I. The thyrotropin stimulation test and scanning with selenomethionin (75Se) were used to clarify the character of the tumor process. In cases of non-malignant tumors confirmed pathohistologically, thyrotropin exerted a stimulatory effect and selenomethionin (75Se) accumulation was not observed. In patients with thyroid cancer, cold nodes were not stimulated with thyrotropin whereas intense 75Se accumulation was seen. The positive stimulation test was obtained in one case of thyroid cancer owing to the presence of the unchanged thyroid tissue around the tumor node. 75Se accumulation by a benign tumor was caused by massive haemorrhages. Combined use of clinicoradioisotopic and pathohistological methods significantly improves the diagnosis of the thyroid cancer process.