Endocrine Abstracts

Endocrinology, Diabetology, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Department

Ibn Rochd University Hospital of Casablanca, Morocco

Neurosciences and Mental Health Laboratory Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy-University Hassan II- Casablanca-Morocco

Introduction: Insular carcinoma of the thyroid is an extremely rare tumor, accounting for 4% of cases, with a poor prognosis and malignancy intermediate between differentiated and anaplastic cancers. The objective of this study is to specify the characteristics of this cancer by examining its diagnostic and prognostic aspects.

Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the endocrinology and diabetology department, including 13 patients followed for insular thyroid cancer between 1986-2023, among all thyroid carcinomas (1005 patients).

Results: The prevalence was 1.3%. The average age was 56 years. Eight patients presented with multi-heteronodular goiter, and four with an isolated nodule, including one toxic nodule. All patients underwent total thyroidectomy with lymph node dissection. Radioiodine therapy (100 mCi) was administered to all patients. Insular carcinoma represented the entire tumor in 4 cases or was associated with awell-differentiated follicular (2 cases) or papillary (6 cases) component. The average tumor size was 4 cm (2–8 cm). Histological stages (pTNM): T2 (6 cases); T3 (4 cases); T4 (3 cases); N0 (10 cases); N1 (3 cases). Recurrence was observed in 3 patients (locoregional recurrence and bone metastasis) after an average period of 28 months. Predictors of poor prognosis included age, large size, multifocality, and capsule invasion.

Conclusion: Our results emphasize the rarity of insular carcinoma with potential severity (pTNM stage, recurrence frequency).