Characteristics of well-differentiated thyroid cancer associated with multinodular goiter.
BACKGROUND
The likelihood of thyroid cancer is similar in patients with one or more nodules, but tumor characteristics of thyroid cancer in glands with multinodular goiter are unclear.


METHODS
This study consisted of 100 consecutive patients (ages 15-81 years; 84 women), who underwent thyroidectomy for papillary or follicular thyroid carcinoma between 2005 and 2006. Patient demographics, diagnostic tests, operations, and pathological findings were reviewed.


RESULTS
In a univariate analysis, cancer diagnosed within multinodular goiter was different from solitary cancer nodule in age of diagnosis (48 vs 40 years, p = 0.002), tumor size (1.42 vs 2.20 cm, p = 0.024), and the presence of cervical lymph node metastases (p = 0.035). There was no difference in gender, extrathyroidal invasion, multifocality, and types of operation. Only age (odds ratio, 1.056) and tumor size (odds ratio, 0.730) revealed independent correlation in multivariate analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Thyroid cancer in glands with multiple nodules is associated with older age at diagnosis and smaller tumor size.
Cheng
Shih-Ping
SP
Department of Surgery, Mackay Memorial Hospital, 92, Sec 2, Chung-Shan North Road, Taipei, 10449, Taiwan.
Liu
Chien-Liang
CL
Tzen
Chi-Yuan
CY
Yang
Tsen-Long
TL
Jeng
Kuo-Shyang
KS
Liu
Tsang-Pai
TP
Lee
Jie-Jen
JJ
D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D055815:Young Adult