<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_raon-2018-0027_s_001_w2aab2b8c63b1b7b1aab1c16b1Aa"><h3>Background</h3><p>The association of subacute thyroiditis (SAT) and papillary thyroid carcinoma is a rare finding. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of differentiated thyroid cancer in a cohort of patients followed with the diagnosis of SAT.</p></sec><sec id="j_raon-2018-0027_s_002_w2aab2b8c63b1b7b1aab1c16b2Aa"><h3>Patients and methods</h3><p>We retrospectively screened medical records of Endocrinology and Metabolism outpatient clinic in the past 20 years for patients with SAT. Patients with nodules and suspicious ultrasonography findings who underwent fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and operated due to malignancy risk were identified.</p></sec><sec id="j_raon-2018-0027_s_003_w2aab2b8c63b1b7b1aab1c16b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>We identified 137 (100 females, 37 males) patients with reliable records to confirm the diagnosis of SAT. The mean age of female patients was 41.1 ± 9.1 (range, 20–64) and of male patients was 43.0 ± 9.3 (range, 20–65). One or more FNAB was performed in 23 of the patients (16.8%) at the beginning and/or during the follow-up period when needed. Seven patients with suspicious FNAB findings were operated, and histopathological examination of the nodules confirmed the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma in 6 patients (4.4%).</p></sec><sec id="j_raon-2018-0027_s_004_w2aab2b8c63b1b7b1aab1c16b4Aa"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Our observations suggesting a relatively higher prevalence of thyroid cancer in a small series of SAT patients warrant further studies to identify the real frequency of differentiated thyroid cancer and its association with inflammatory pathogenesis of SAT. This finding is compatible with the trend of increased thyroid cancer incidence all over the world. A repeat ultrasonography after resolution of clinical and inflammatory findings, and FNAB should be recommended to all patients with suspicious nodules.</p></sec></abstract>

BackgroundThe association of subacute thyroiditis (SAT) and papillary thyroid carcinoma is a rare finding. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of differentiated thyroid cancer in a cohort of patients followed with the diagnosis of SAT.Patients and methodsWe retrospectively screened medical records of Endocrinology and Metabolism outpatient clinic in the past 20 years for patients with SAT. Patients with nodules and suspicious ultrasonography findings who underwent fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and operated due to malignancy risk were identified.ResultsWe identified 137 (100 females, 37 males) patients with reliable records to confirm the diagnosis of SAT. The mean age of female patients was 41.1 ± 9.1 (range, 20–64) and of male patients was 43.0 ± 9.3 (range, 20–65). One or more FNAB was performed in 23 of the patients (16.8%) at the beginning and/or during the follow-up period when needed. Seven patients with suspicious FNAB findings were operated, and histopathological examination of the nodules confirmed the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma in 6 patients (4.4%).ConclusionsOur observations suggesting a relatively higher prevalence of thyroid cancer in a small series of SAT patients warrant further studies to identify the real frequency of differentiated thyroid cancer and its association with inflammatory pathogenesis of SAT. This finding is compatible with the trend of increased thyroid cancer incidence all over the world. A repeat ultrasonography after resolution of clinical and inflammatory findings, and FNAB should be recommended to all patients with suspicious nodules.

Prevalence of papillary thyroid cancer in subacute thyroiditis patients may be higher than it is presumed: retrospective analysis of 137 patients

Department of Internal Medicine, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine

Radiology and Oncology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

BackgroundThe association of subacute thyroiditis (SAT) and papillary thyroid carcinoma is a rare finding. In this study, we aimed to investigate the...

Prevalence of papillary thyroid cancer in subacute thyroiditis patients may be higher than it is presumed: retrospective analysis of 137 patients

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Sep 11, 2018

Page range: 257 - 262

Received: Mar 12, 2018

Accepted: Jul 12, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2018-0027

© 2018 Nurdan Gül, Ayşe Kubat Üzüm, Özlem Soyluk Selçukbiricik, Gülçin Yegen, Refik Tanakol, Ferihan Aral, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.