[Mass screening for goiter under a public x-ray program].

: The photofluorograms obtained during the 1976 public x-ray screening programme in the urban region of Rostock were scrutinized for dilations of the mediastinum and displacements of the trachea which might indicate strumae. Suspicious x-ray findings were verified scintigraphically in 42 of 117 cases. Tracheal constriction and displacement were found in 28 patients. Except for two suffering from hyperthyroidism, all patients were euthyroid on the basis of the in vitro diagnosis. 14 of 18 "cold" nodes and regions were clarified cytologically. Altogether, 21 patients were treated by hormone substitution, 4 by surgery and 1 (female) by radio-iodine therapy. This shows that public x-ray screening programmes are a suitable tool for identifying treatable strumae regardless of age for little additional cost.