evaluation of solitary thyroid nodule

Iraq is an endemic area for goiter and for various thyroid diseases. The most serious problem facing the surgeon and the pathologist is the evaluation of patients with solitary thyroid mass. In this study, 270 out of 1849 patients with thyroid enlargement presented as solitary thyroid nodule [14.6%]. There were predominance of female patients [ratio = 9:1]. Histological study of solitary nodule revealed various pathology 80% were colloid goiter [adenomatous goiter], 11.6% adenoma, 7.4% carcinoma, and various other pathology constitute 1%. It is thus concluded that solitary thyroid nodule is serious clinical entity and the ultimate diagnosis and definitive evaluation is based on histological analysis