CLINICAL PRESENTATION OF THYROID CARCINOMAS

Thyroid carcinomas are rare tumors with an incidence of 2-3/100000 per year. 90% of malignant thyroid tumors are carcinomas, other tumors li ke metastasis of other primaries are comperatively rare. In iodine-def icient regions, like Germany, benign goiters have a prevalence of 35 - 50%, while only 3 - 5% of all thyroid nodules are malignent. Conseque ntly the early identification of malignant processes rises a major cli nical problem. Another difficulty in clinical presentation of thyroid cancer is the lack of any specific symptoms in early stages. For the e arly diagnosis it is important to take a complete history including ri sk factors for thyroid carcinomas, i.e. family history, history of nec k irradiation in the past, volume increasement of thyroid nodules. Fur thermore, ultrasound and nuclear scan findings, particularly hypoechoi c and cold nodules, should be paid high attentation in this regard. Fi ne needle aspiration biopsy should be performed in those nodules for f urther cytologic differentiation. Although the prognosis of thyroid ca rcinomas is comperatively good, it could be even better by early stage diagnosis.