Hyperthyroidism and concurrent thyroid cancer - coincidence or association?

In a series of 617 patients undergoing thyroidectomy, 86 cases (13.9%) were identified as having hyperthyroidism. Forty-nine out of these 86 patients suffered from Graves disease. Histopathologic evaluation revealed a low gra de papillary thyroid carcinoma in two out of the 86 specimens from the hype rthyroid patients. Therefore, the incidence of malignancy among all our pat ients with hyperthoidism is 2.3% and among those with Graves disease is 4.1 %. Patients with hyperthyroidism and concurrent nodular or diffuse goiter a re at possible risk for thyroid carcinoma. The indication for surgical rese ction is given in these cases where the success of thyroistatic treatment i s low and where patients are at higher risk for thyroid malignancy. In a sh ort review of the literature, we discuss the coincidence of the two patholo gic entities and their possible association.