Incidental Thyroid Cancer in Cases With Inflammatory Thyroid Lesion

Incidental Thyroid Cancer in Patients With Inflammatory Thyroid Lesions: A Cohort Study From a Tertiary Care Center

This study aim to assess for the incidence of thyroid cancer in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (Inflammatory thyroid Lesions)

The relationship between chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis is well established in multiple organ systems, including the liver, stomach, and colon. In the thyroid, chronic lymphocytic infiltration may create a pro-inflammatory microenvironment that promotes cellular proliferation, DNA damage, and oncogenic transformation. Several studies have suggested an increased risk of thyroid cancer, particularly papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis

Inclusion Criteria:

1. All types of autoimmune thyroiditis, including:

   • Graves' disease
   • Toxic multinodular goiter (TMNG)
   • Toxic nodule (TN)
   • Hashimoto thyroiditis
   • Unspecified toxic nodular goiter

2. Age between 18 and 60 years

3. Underwent thyroid surgical operation (lobectomy or total thyroidectomy)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with known differentiated thyroid cancer before surgery
2. Recurrent thyroid disease (previous thyroid surgery)
3. Patients unfit for operation (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade IV or V)
4. Incomplete histopathological data
5. Patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma or anaplastic thyroid cancer