Table 3 Classification of the 40 thyroid nodules

Benign (no. = 31)

Malignant (no. = 9)

5 confirmed by thyroid scintigraphy:

 2 autonomous functioning nodules

 3 toxic multinodular goiters

4 confirmed by cytology:

 3 papillary carcinoma

 1 atypical malignant cell

22 confirmed by cytology:

 8 colloid cysts/goiters

 5 colloid cysts with hemorrhage

 2 hemorrhagic cysts

 7 benign nodular hyperplasia

3 confirmed by cytology followed by surgical histopathology:

 2 papillary carcinoma

 1 follicular variant of papillary carcinoma

3 confirmed by cytology followed by surgical histopathology:

 2 benign multinodular goiter

 1 follicular adenoma

2 confirmed by surgical histopathology:

 1 micropapillary carcinoma

 1 follicular carcinoma

1 confirmed by surgical histopathology:

 Nodular Hashimoto’s thyroiditis