[Epidemiological and clinicopathological study of thyroid cancer in east Madrid].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the incidence, clinical and histopathological manifestations, surgical complications, and prognostic factors of thyroid cancer in the east Madrid population.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of 141 consecutive diagnosed of thyroid cancer in our area between 1985 and 2001. Median follow-up was 4,5 years.


RESULTS
The annual incidence rate was 4.74/100,000 inhabitants and the female:male proportion 3.5:1. The average age of patients at diagnosis was 44.5 years and nodular goiter was the principal type of clinical presentation (74.5%). The most frequent histological variant was papillary thyroid carcinoma (69%). Total thyroidectomy was carried out in 86% patients. 9.6% patients suffered permanent hypoparathyroidism and 3.3% paralysis of recurrent laryngeal nerve. Radioactive iodine ablation of remaining thyroid was carried out in 91 patients. Residual disease or local recurrence was observed on follow-up in 21% of patients, and metastasis at a distant site in 9%. 7.9% died along follow-up. The principal prognostic factors for metastasis or death were age, histological type, tumor size, local invasion and existence of metastasis at the time of diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of thyroid cancer in our population was high, especially in women. Although the proportion of postsurgical complications was elevated, global prognosis is good and some factors related to it have been identified. Increase of thyroglobulin plasma level at follow-up is a good recurrence indicator of the disease, especially with regard to distant metastases.
Blanco Carrera
C
C
Sección de Endocrinología. Hospital Príncipe de Asturias. Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain. cblanco@eresmas.net
Peláez Torres
N
N
García-Díaz
J D
JD
Maqueda Villaizan
E
E
Sanz
J M
JM
Alvarez Hernández
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*