Data concerning the incidence of latent thyroid carcinoma (LTC) in populations with endemic goiter are scarce. Despite the introduction of iodine goiter prophylaxis in the early sixties, iodine supply is still insufficient in Austria and goiter remains endemic. This is the first detailed study dealing with epidemiological features of LTC at autopsy in Austria. A total of 118 thyroid glands were included in the study. The glands were serially sectioned at 2- to 3-mm intervals, embedded in paraffin and histologically examined for the presence of LTC. In addition, the incidence and severity of lymphocytic thyroiditis (LT) were evaluated. Ten thyroids were found to contain LTC (8.6%). All were of the papillary type. The mean tumor dimension was 4.9 mm +/- 3.2, the smallest lesion measuring 1 mm. Only the largest tumor slightly exceeded the extent of a microcarcinoma and measured 10.5 mm. Multifocal disease was present in three cases (30%). The prevalence of latent papillary thyroid carcinoma (LPTC) was 6.6% (n = 4) in females and 10.5% (n = 6) in males. The mean age of the subjects with LPTC was 67.7 +/- 14.4 yr, range 37 to 77 yr. Goitrous thyroids were seen in 33 cases (28%): One gland was diffusely enlarged and 32 (27.1%) enlarged glands were nodular goiters. The overall prevalence of LT was 30.5% (n = 36) and the only type of thyroiditis observed was focal lymphocytic thyroiditis (FLT). There was no correlation between the presence of LPTC and goiter, the presence of FLT and the subjects' age and sex. The incidence of LPTC in Austria is similar to that in nongoitrous regions. The adult population at large seems to be uniformly exposed to factors involved in the initiation and early growth of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). This suggests that the levels of iodine intake only play a minor role in the early phase of the carcinogenesis of PTC, but may be of some importance in the progression of LPTC to clinically evident PTC.