title: Thyroid cancer in HCV-related chronic hepatitis patients: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study prospectively investigated prevalence and features of thyroid cancer in patients with hepatitis C virus-related chronic hepatitis (HCV+) in comparison to two samples from the general population with different iodine intake.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the prevalence of thyroid cancer in 308 unselected HCV+ patients in comparison to two population-based, gender- and age-matched control groups: 1) 616 subjects from an iodine deficient area; 2) 616 subjects from an iodine-sufficient area. Thyroid status was assessed by measurement of circulating thyroid hormones and autoantibodies, thyroid ultrasonography, and when indicated, fine-needle aspiration cytology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Circulating thyrotropin, anti-thyroglobulin, and anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies levels, and the prevalence of hypothyroidism were significantly higher in HCV+ patients (p < 0.001 for all). Six patients with papillary thyroid cancer were detected among HCV+ patients, whereas no case was observed in control 1 (p = 0.001), and only one case was observed in control 2 (p = 0.003). In HCV+ patients 83% with thyroid cancer had evidence of thyroid autoimmunity vs 31% of the other HCV+ patients (p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest a high prevalence of thyroid papillary cancer in HCV+ patients, overall in presence of thyroid autoimmunity; careful thyroid monitoring is indicated during the follow-up of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Metabolism Unit Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy. a.antonelli@med.unipi.it
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: Clodoveo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.forename: Poupak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fallahi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pampana
authors.forename: Silvia Martina
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barani
authors.forename: Santino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marchi
authors.forename: Ele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrannini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000453:epidemiology; D013972:Thyrotropin
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin