Analysis of Incidental Thyroid Cancers in Surgically Treated Toxic Goiter Patients

Abstract

Differentiated Thyroid Cancer (DTC) is the most common endocrine cancer and the frequency of DTC detection in histopathological examinations in thyroid surgeries performed for non-cancer indications is increasing. The aim of this study is to investigate the rate of incidentally detected thyroid cancer in patients who underwent surgery for toxic goiter in our clinic. Histopathological data of patients who underwent surgery with a diagnosis of toxic goiter were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 3 groups as toxic adenoma (TA), toxic multinodular goiter (MNG) and Basedow-Graves disease. The presence of malignancy and clinicopathological features were investigated RESULTS: 84% of the cases were female and 16% were male, and the mean age was 43. 202 (65%) of the toxic goiter cases had TMG, 8 (3%) had TA, and 101 (32%) had Graves' disease. Histopathologically, the malignant/benign ratio was 65 (21%)/ 246 (79%). Malignancy was detected in 3 of the 15 patients with a family history of thyroid cancer Incidental thyroid cancer was detected in 65 (21%) of the patients with toxic goiter. Thyroid carcinoma was present in 45 (22%) of the patients with toxic MNG, 1 (12.5%) of the patients with TA and 19 (19%) of the patients with Graves. Histopathological examination revealed 62 papillary (38 microcarcinoma), 2 Non-invasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm with Papillary-like Nuclear Features (NIFTP) and 1 medullary microcarcinoma. The incidence of incidental thyroid cancer in the patients with toxic goiter treated with surgery was found to be consistent with the literature. © 2025, Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi. All rights reserved.