title: Incidental versus non-incidental thyroid carcinoma: Clinical presentation, surgical management and prognosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thyroid cancer may be clinically evident as a tumor mass in the neck or as a histopathological incidental finding after thyroid surgery for an apparent benign condition. Our objective was to assess the differences in clinical signs, surgical management, and course between incidental and clinically diagnosed thyroid tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was conducted on patients operated on for benign or malignant thyroid disease from January 2000 to March 2014. Among the 1415 patients who underwent any thyroid surgery, 264 neoplasms were found, of which 170 were incidental. A comparison was made of incidental versus non-incidental carcinomas. Among incidental carcinomas, cases whose indication for surgery was Graves' disease were compared to those with multinodular goiter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incidental carcinomas were in earlier stages and required less aggressive surgery. There were no differences in surgical complications between incidental and clinical tumors, but mortality and relapses were markedly higher in non-incidental cancers (4.4% vs 0% and 13.2% vs 4.8% respectively). Carcinomas developing on Graves' disease showed no differences from all other incidental tumors in terms of complications, mortality, or relapse after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early stage thyroid cancer has better survival and prognosis after surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital General Universitario J.M. Morales Meseguer, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, España. Electronic address: elenagsm77@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: González-Sánchez-Migallón
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital General Universitario J.M. Morales Meseguer, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Benito
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Flores-Pastor
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital General Universitario J.M. Morales Meseguer, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Carmen Victoria
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Pérez-Guarinos
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital General Universitario J.M. Morales Meseguer, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miguel-Perelló
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital General Universitario J.M. Morales Meseguer, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Asunción
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaves-Benito
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital General Universitario J.M. Morales Meseguer, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Illán-Gómez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital General Universitario J.M. Morales Meseguer, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carrillo-Alcaraz
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital General Universitario J.M. Morales Meseguer, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Aguayo-Albasini
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy
keywords: Cáncer de tiroides; Cáncer tiroideo incidental; Incidental thyroid cancer; Prognosis; Pronóstico; Thyroid cancer