[Cold thyroid nodules: study of 163 cases (author's transl)].

A group of 163 patients with cold thyroid nodules was studied. Of these, 131 underwent surgery with thyroid neoplasms being found in 33 cases (22.13%). No statistically significant differences were seen in frequency of neoplastic cold thyroid nodules between males and females; in time of evolution between neoplastic and non-neoplastic cold thyroid nodules; or in mean age of the groups with neoplastic and non-neoplastic cold nodules. On the other hand, there were significant differences between the mean age of patients with different types of thyroid neoplasms. In conclusion, as at present no diagnostic technique allowing a clear differentiation between neoplastic and non-neoplastic cold thyroid nodules is available for preoperative use, surgical intervention is desirable in cases of this type.