PREVALENCE OF THYROID-CANCER IN HYPERTHYROID PATIENTS TREATED BY SURGERY

A retrospective study has been carried out to evaluate the prevalence of malignant thyroid tumors in 202 patients submitted to surgery for h yperthyroidism, Thyroid cancer was diagnosed in 12 cases (5.9%); the f inal histologic examination revealed nine papillary carcinomas, one fo llicular carcinoma, and two Hurthle cell carcinomas, Concurrence of hy perthyroidism and thyroid cancer was more frequent in patients with si ngle toxic adenomas than in those with toxic diffuse or multinodular g oiters, In five cases thyroid malignancy was detected in the context o f the hyperthyroid lesion (three toxic adenomas and two diffuse goiter s), In eight patients the malignant lesion showed a maximum diameter o f less than 1 cm, although in five of these cases unfavorable histolog ic features, such as minimal capsular invasion or multifocality, were present, All patients presenting with thyroid cancer are currently ali ve and apparently free of residual disease. It is concluded that hyper thyroid patients, particularly those with single toxic adenomas, shoul d be carefully evaluated to exclude the presence of an associated mali gnancy and to plan the most appropriate therapeutic options.