The Autonomous Thyroid Nodule: Correlation of Scan Appearance and Histopathology

Histopathology and scan findings were correlated in patients with autonomous and nonfunctioning thyroid nodules. Autonomous nodules showed significantly more cellular hyperplasia and atrophy of extranodular tissue than nonfunctioning nodules did. Histologically, most autonomous nodules were “nontoxic” nodular goiter. The histopathology of the nodules did not correlate with antithyroid drugs, metabolic state, nodule size, or duration of symptoms. Only autonomous nodules measuring ≥ 3 cm in diameter caused hyperthyroidism. It was concluded that the histology of thyroid nodules correlates with their functional status as determined by scanning. Autonomous nodules may be differentiated histologically from nonfunctioning nodules in most cases.