title: Frequency of thyroid carcinoma and thyroid autoimmunity in first-degree relatives of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma: a single center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the frequency of thyroid cancer and thyroid dysfunction in first-degree relatives of thyroid cancer patients, and to determine if there is a difference between familial and sporadic thyroid cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen first-degree relatives of seven families with at least two family members with thyroid cancer (TC) were compared with 128 first-degree relatives of 45 families with only one family member affected. Laboratory and ultrasound evaluation, fine-needle aspiration biopsy and thyroid surgery were used as normally done in clinical practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thyroid dysfunction was similar between the two groups. The frequency of TC and autoimmunity in the group that had two relatives with known thyroid cancer was higher, compared with the families that had sporadic thyroid cancer among their family members (40% vs. 2%, p = 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frequency of TC increases when more than one member of the family is affected. These findings suggest that these relatives should be screened more frequently than individuals in families in which only one case of TC is observed.
authors: Medical School, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Elaine Maria dos Santos
authors: EM
authors: Gomes
authors: Fernanda
authors: F
authors: Vaisman
authors: Ana Paula
authors: AP
authors: Vidal
authors: Rossana
authors: R
authors: Corbo
authors: Manuel Domingos Gonçalves da
authors: MD
authors: Cruz
authors: Patricia de Fatima dos Santos
authors: Pde F
authors: Teixeira
authors: Alexandru
authors: A
authors: Buescu
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Vaisman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015551:Autoimmunity; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002277:Carcinoma; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult