Changing patterns of thyroid cancer in Sri Lanka. Has the iodination programme helped?
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain if there has been a change in the pattern of thyroid cancer in Sri Lanka. If so, whether there is a correlation to the implementation of the programme of iodination.


METHODS
Retrospective (1974-1986) and prospective (1987-2001).


METHODS
Kandy Hospital (1974-1982), Peradeniya Hospital (1982-2001) and private hospitals in Kandy (1979-2001).


METHODS
Three hundred consecutive patients with cancer of the thyroid seen over 28 years (1974-2001) period were reviewed for demography, histopathology and extent of spread at presentation. Seventy one patients of this group had a pre-existing goitre of greater than 10 years' duration and were similarly reviewed.


RESULTS
A highly significant reduction of anaplastic thyroid cancer and a highly significant reduction in the extent of extra-thyroidal spread at presentation of differentiated thyroid cancer were observed after 1995. In malignancy supervening on pre-existing goitre, a significant reduction in anaplastic carcinoma and a highly significant increase in papillary carcinoma were noted in the post-1996 period. A significant reduction of extra-thyroidal spread was also observed.


CONCLUSIONS
A trend towards more differentiated thyroid cancer with lesser degree of spread was observed in recent years. The iodination programme implemented in 1995 is likely to be responsible for this change.
Ratnatunga
P C
PC
Department of Surgery, University of Peradeniya. kesara7@yahoo.com
Amarasinghe
S C
SC
Ratnatunga
N V
NV
D000328:Adult; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000453:epidemiology; D018265:Carcinoma, Papillary, Follicular / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
D007455:Iodine