摘要：

IN 1947 two articles appeared from the Eastern Seaboard of the United States minimizing the importance of carcinoma of the thyroid (1) (2). In the first, this disease was described as a rare cause of death. This assumption was based on the low incidence of carcinoma of the thyroid found at autopsy at three hospitals in Boston. The author was unable to explain why the incidence found by him was so low in contrast to reports of others and suggested that the pathologic criteria used in making the diagnosis were responsible. The second article reported a study of both clinical and autopsy material at three hospitals. The incidence of carcinoma of the thyroid in the periods studied was found to be less than that reported elsewhere, and virtually no greater than the mortality rate of prophylactic surgery in nodular goiter at two of the hospitals. Since there was an undesirable complication rate in addition, strong doubt was expressed regarding the advisability of such prophylactic surgery.

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