The Statistical Relation between Goiter and Cancer

from cancer of the alimentary tract eventually occurred. In collecting data for a book on iodine and the incidence of goiter (1) the accompanying maps were obtained, showing a resemblance between the distribution of nodular goiter (Fig. 1) and cancer in Switzerland (Fig. 2) . The relation between goiter and cancer was mentioned by Bayard and Hunziker and studied statistically by Stiner (2). De Quervain and Wegelin ( 3 ) criticize Stiner’s correlation of the two diseases by pointing out differences in their distribution as shown on detailed maps, but admit that nodular goiter may lead to cancer of the thyroid. Many pathologists find dacul ty in diagnosing primary cancer within the thyroid in the absence of metastases. In bony fish, for example, in which the normal thyrdid is broken up into a large number of bodies suggesting metastases, the differentiation of benign and malignant adenomata has led to difference of opinion. , Gaylord supposed that trout often had thyroid cancer. Marine, on the other hand, concluded that