HODGKINS-DISEASE PRESENTING AS A SOLITARY THYROID-NODULE

Two patients with unusual Hodgkin's disease who initially had a painle ss, solitary, thyroid cold nodule are described. Fine-needle aspiratio n revealed lymphocytic thyroiditis in one patient and a diagnosis of H odgkin's disease was made 1 year later. In the second patient, aspirat ion of the nodule demonstrated a syncytial variant of nodular sclerosi s Hodgkin's disease. Both patients underwent radiologic work-up, and s urgery of the thyroid was avoided. After chemotherapy, both thyroid no dules disappeared. Thyroid involvement by Hodgkin's disease may be mor e common than anticipated, and may present atypically as a solitary th yroid nodule. Lymphocytic thyroiditis may accompany the disease and ma y cause a delay in the diagnosis. Recognition of this entity and the u se of fine-needle aspiration may prevent unnecessary thyroid surgery, thus maintaining intact thyroid function after therapy.