Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aims: To evaluate the evolution of thyroid cancer epidemiological characteristics from 2004 to 2014.

Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of histological data from thyroidectomies performed in our hospital in the period 2004–2014.

Results: From 2004 to 2014, 2725 thyroidectomies (women 81% vs men 19%) were performed in our hospital. In 1083 of these (40%) histologic examination revealed thyroid cancer.

Thirty-four percent of all cancers were diagnosed from 2004 to 2010, while this percentage arises to 66% during the last four years. Median age at diagnosis was 49.2 years.

In almost half (43.7%) of thyroid cancer patients, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis coexisted.

Forty-eight percent of cancers were multifocal, whereas in the remaining 52% there was found a single focus on histologic examination. In the multifocal cancers, median maximum focus was less than 1 cm in 68.7% and >1 cm in 31.3%.

Invasion of thyroid capsule was reported in 36.7% of all cancers.

A total of 26.5% showed extrathyroidal extension, independently of the maximum focus size.

It is interesting to report that frequency of invasive behaviour is increasing from 2008 to 2014. Histologic types: papillary 94%, follicular 2.5%, medullary 2.8%, Hurtle-cell 0.6%, anaplastic 0.1%.

Conclusions: i) The percentage of thyroid cancers is gradually increasing per year in the period studied, which could mean:

– more targeted pre-surgery diagnostic evaluation and referral for thyroidectomy.

– a possible real increase in thyroid cancer frequency.

ii) Maximum frequency of thyroid cancer in middle aged patients, mainly women.

iii) Coexistence of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in almost 50% of cases.

iv) Independently of maximum thyroid cancer focus, increased frequency of invasive behaviour is reported during the last 5 years.