INTRODUCTION:
Cancer is becoming a leading cause of death in many countries of the world. Thyroid malignancy is relatively rare, but represents the most frequent form of cancer of the endocrine glands. It may present as solitary nodule or as a dominant nodule in multinodular goitre. Therefore both conditions should be carefully evaluated to detect any underlying malignant foci. In India thyroid cancer responsible for 1.2% cases of all malignant tumors. Exposure to ionizing radiation, changing levels of iodine nutrition and improvement in the various investigations to identify malignant foci have all proposed as explanations for world wide increase in the incidence of thyroid malignancy.
AIM OF THE STUDY:
To determine the frequency of thyroid malignancy in solitary nodular goitre and multinodular goitre patients who are undergoing thyroidectomy in our institution.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
This retrospective study was carried out in our hospital over the period of two years from 2008 to 2009. All patients who are underwent different types of thyroid surgery during this period were included in this study. All data including age gender, relevant history, investigations like untrasonography and fine needle aspiration cytology, duration of hospital stay, and final histopathology report were recorded on a standard form.
CONCLUSION:
Average age group of patients present with nodular goitre in our institution is 16-35, it is omparable to other studies.
• Females are predominant sex group presented with nodular goitre.
• Majority of the malignancies are presented as solitary nodule.
• Maximum number of malignancies occurred in 16 to 35 age group.
• Frequency of malignancy is greater in solitary nodular goitre than multi nodular goitre.
• Frequency of malignancy in nodular goitre is 20% it is comparable to other studies.
• Papillary type of carcinoma is the predominant type of malignancy presented.
• All postoperative thyroid specimens should be subjected to detailed histopathology to detect microscopic malignant foci.
• Due to its high accuracy and cost effectiveness FNAC plays significant role in the diagnosis of thyroid malignancy and management.
• Incidence of thyroid malignancy in nodular goitre it present in our hospital is significant. FNAC and Ultra sound are important tools for the assessment of this goitres.
• The risk of malignancy in MNG should not be under estimated as the incidence of malignancy in MNG is raising.
• Dominant nodule in MNG should be considered as significant like solitary nodule.
• Total thyroidectomy in MNG removes the disease process completely and avoids the substantial risk of re-operative surgery