Impact of lymphocytic thyroiditis on incidence of pathological incidental thyroid carcinoma. Issue 1 (28th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Farrell, Eric; Heffron, Cynthia; Murphy, Matthew; O'Leary, Gerard; Sheahan, Patrick
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 39:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 122
• Page End: 127
• Publication Date: 2016-10-28
• Subjects: thyroid cancer -- Hashimoto's thyroiditis -- Graves' disease -- papillary carcinoma -- lymphocytic thyroiditis; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.24544
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of lymphocytic thyroiditis on incidence of incidental thyroid cancers. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 713 consecutive patients who underwent thyroidectomies. Incidental thyroid cancer was defined as an unexpected cancer discovered on pathological examination outside the index nodule undergoing preoperative cytology. Results: We excluded 65 cases because of preoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancer, and 68 because of nonincidental cancer within the index nodule. Among the remaining 580 cases, there were 43 cases (7.4%) of incidental thyroid cancers. Incidental thyroid cancers were significantly associated with moderate/severe lymphocytic thyroiditis (relative risk = 2.5; p = .03). Sixteen of 56 patients with moderate/severe lymphocytic thyroiditis had Graves' disease, none of whom had incidental thyroid cancer. The risk of incidental thyroid cancer associated with moderate/severe lymphocytic thyroiditis was significantly higher in non‐Graves' than patients with Graves' disease ( p = .05). Conclusion: The risk of incidental thyroid cancer is significantly increased in patients with moderate/severe lymphocytic thyroiditis. Moderate/severe lymphocytic thyroiditis associated with Graves' disease seems to have a lower risk of incidental thyroid cancer. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 122–127, 2017