Thyroid Cancer in Surgical Treated Multinodular Goiter

Thyroid Cancer in Surgically Treated Multinodular Goiter: Incidence and Histopatological Outcomes

This study aims to investigate, based on existing knowledge, the incidence of occult thyroid carcinoma in a cohort of patients with MNG, providing new insights into the prevalence and characteristics of thyroid malignancies in MNG. It seeks to contribute to optimizing diagnostic evaluations for patients with multinodular goiter.

This retrospective study included patients with a preoperative diagnosis of multinodular goiter who underwent total or partial thyroidectomy from January 2018 to May 2024 at the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences at the University Hospital "Ospedali Riuniti" in Foggia. The study's objective was to investigate the incidence of thyroid carcinoma in patients undergoing thyroidectomy for MNG, also analyzing associated demographic and clinical variables.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients diagnosed with multinodular goiter via thyroid ultrasound, with or without FNA cytology.
• patients who underwent surgery.
• availability of complete clinical data

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of thyroid carcinoma or other thyroid neoplasms.
• not completed postoperative follow up.
• patients with preoperative FNA results indicating malignancy (TIR 4-5), suspicion of malignancy (TIR 3), or indeterminate significance (TIR 1)