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Evaluation Of Thyroid Nodules-Hot And Cold, Melvin J. Fratkin

MCV/Q, Medical College of Virginia Quarterly

Thyroid nodules occur frequently, are more common in women, and the incidence increases with age for both sexes. Clinically normal thyroid glands commonly contain nodules in autopsy series. In 20- to 50-year-old females, as high as 50% of the thyroid glands are nodular, whereas in males the incidence approaches 30%. When the prevalence of clinically palpable thyroid nodules was the objective of the Framingham population researchers, Vander et al detected nodules in 6.4% of females and 1.5% of males aged 30-50 years. Even with diligent, thorough examination of the neck, only about one tenth of pathologically nodular thyroid glands can …