World J. Surg. Vol. 16, No. 1, Jan./Feb. 1992 140 surgery and had no adverse effect on the patient. There was a significant number (55%) of cancers <1.0 cm in diameter. In 5 (36%) of these cases a careful search revealed positive lymph nodes. This observation is of interest in view of the ongoing argument that prevails in calling total or near total thyroidectomy, radical therapy. As time passes more evidence accruesto endorse this ‘‘radical’’ approach in thyroid malignancy. In these patients with a low degree of malignancy there has been no recurrence, surely an accolade to the well recorded surgical clearance of the thyroid gland and nodal disease as outlined by the authorsin this report. References 1. De Groote, L., Paloyan, E.: Thyroid carcinoma and radiation. J.A.M.A. 225:487, 1973 2. Hancock, S.L., Cox, R.S.. McDougall, R.I.: Thyroid disorders after treatment of Hodgkins Disease. N. Engl. J. Med. 325:599, 1991 3. Socolow, E.L.: Thyroid carcinoma in manafter exposure to ionizing irradiation: A summary of findings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. N. Engl. J. Med. 268:406, 1963 . Myhill, J.A., Hales, I.B.. Reeve. T.S.: Thyroid radioinsensitivity in hyperthyroid and euthyroid subjects treated with ['7!. Current Topics in Thyroid Research, London & New York, Academic Press, 1965, pp. 1143-1152