Minimal Thyroid Neoplasia

Every malignant tumor has its prestages; their earliest possible detection is of vital importance for the patient’s prognosis (Grundmann 1979). Consequently, it is necessary to define these early lesions by exact morphologic criteria and to develop appropriate methods for clinical detection and treatment. In the thyroid, carcinoma pathology has many facets such as the different histologic types, stages of evolution, and correlation of morphology and prognosis. In contrast to the minimal cancers of other organs, it is important that some of the very early thyroid tumors are recognized clinically by the evidence of cervical lymph node metastases, and that this type of spread does not affect the generally favorable prognosis.