title: Characteristics of well-differentiated thyroid cancer associated with multinodular goiter.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mackay Memorial Hospital, 92, Sec 2, Chung-Shan North Road, Taipei, 10449, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Chien-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chi-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Tzen
authors.forename: Tsen-Long
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Kuo-Shyang
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jeng
authors.forename: Tsang-Pai
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jie-Jen
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: 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