[Controversial aspects of verification and classification of thyroid tumors].

20-year experience in the intraoperative study of more than 3000 goiters led the authors to the conclusion that the most correct verification of the pathologic process may be performed only by means of intraoperative stereomorphological and histotopographic examination of the biopsy. In case of nodular hyperplasia of follicular and macropapillary structures the most adequate term is adenomatous goiter. The term borderline thyroid tumor is also suggested although it needs further discussion by both clinicians and morphologists.

[Small thyroid cancer].

Thyroid carcinoma was detected in 1132 of 32500 patients undergoing surgery because of goiter. Small thyroid carcinoma (STC) was found in 245 patients (21.6%) and is divided into the following subgroups: 1) local (focal) microcarcinoma-a focus of a pronounced proliferation, dysplasia and fibrosis up to 1 mm in diameter; 2) invasive dwarf carcinoma of 5 to 15 mm in diameter which is not detected by clinical and instrumental methods; 3) intermediate STC, 1 to 5 mm in diameter.

[Value of rapid biopsy in diagnosis of thyroid cancer].

Patients with thyroid carcinoma (ThC) in 67% are erroneously operated on with the diagnosis of nodular struma, this resulting in the recurrences in 30% and mortality and complications reaching 42%. Since 1977 the authors were performing rapid biopsies in all cases of the euthyroid struma and this resulted in the proper diagnosis in 98% of operated patients (48.6% before this).

[Pathomorphology of the thyroid gland (based on emergency biopsy)].

The term "struma" denotes any increase of the thyroid volume and weight regardless of its nature. In no other organ there are so frequent polymorphic structures stimulating neoplastic growth. This does not allow for a wide use the diagnosis of early thyroid carcinoma.

[Preparation of histotopographic goiter sections and endometrium scrapes for relevant instant diagnosis].

Histotopographic examinations of goiters and scrapes taken as a whole are valuable to the emergency pathomorphological diagnosis of thyroid and endometrial diseases essential particularly for the differentiation of adenomas and well differentiated carcinomas. The examination can be carried out only by treating fresh, non-fixed materials with a deeply cooling knife of the routine cold microtome (Model X). Harris' or Ballard's hematoxylins are best used as elective dyes.