Incidental thyroid carcinoma in patients with Graves' disease.
BACKGROUND
The clinical significance of incidental thyroid carcinoma in patients with Graves' disease is uncertain.


METHODS
The prevalence of incidental thyroid carcinoma was determined in patients with Graves' disease who underwent surgery from 1990 to 2007 and was compared with patients with nontoxic nodular goiter or toxic multinodular goiter who underwent surgery during the same time period.


RESULTS
Of the 93 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for Graves' disease, 2 patients (2.2%) had an incidental papillary carcinoma: .4 and .5 cm in size. Neither patient developed recurrent disease after 3 and 13 years of follow-up evaluation. The prevalence of incidental thyroid cancer was 3.6% and 6.2% in patients with nontoxic nodular goiter and toxic multinodular goiter, respectively (P = not significant).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of incidental thyroid carcinoma in patients with Graves' disease is comparable with patients with nontoxic or toxic goiter. Incidental thyroid carcinomas in patients with Graves' disease were papillary microcarcinomas of no clinical consequence.
Phitayakorn
Roy
R
Department of Surgery, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2500 MetroHealth Dr., Cleveland, OH 44109, USA.
McHenry
Christopher R
CR
D000328:Adult; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000453:epidemiology; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013965:Thyroidectomy