TRUE/FALSE about solitary thyroid nodule are: 1. Mostly benign in young patients 2. Hot nodule indicate malignancy 3. Diffuse hyperplasia of thyroid 4. Common in females 5. Thyroidectomy done

A solitary thyroid nodule is a palpable discrete swelling within an otherwise apparently normal thyroid gland. Few impoant points about solitary thyroid nodule: STN is more common in females than males. The incidence of STN increases with age. Solitary nodules, in general are more neoplastic than the multiple nodules. Nodules in the young patients are more neoplastic in comparison with those in older patients. Nodules in males are more neoplastic than those in females. A history of radiation neck treatment to head and neck region is associated with increased incidence of thyroid malignancy. Functional nodules that take up radioactive iodine in imaging studies ( hot nodules) are significantly more likely to be benign than malignant. Hemithyroidectomy is treatment of choice in patients with solitary thyroid nodule because of the risk of leaving behind malignant nodule. Ref: Bailey & love 24/e, Page 784; Robbins 8/e, Page 1118.