PATHOLOGY OF HYPOFUNCTIONING NODULES OF THE THYROID-GLAND

Hypofunctioning ("cold") nodules of the thyroid are caused by thyroid cysts, local inflammation of the thyroid (e.g. local giant cell thyroi ditis and local Hashimoto thyroiditis), adenomas and malignant primary tumours of the thyroid and thyroid metastases. In order to obtain a p recise preoperative diagnosis with important influence on subsequent s urgical strategy fine needle aspiration biopsies as well as scintigrap hical and sonographical examinations are performed. Additionally the d iscrimination of the so-called atypical adenoma from highly differenti ated follicular carcinoma represents a serious problem in thyroid path ology. The use of various immunohistochemical markers in thyroid patho logy is briefly discussed.