Prasadula Ashok1, Paidi Ramesh Chandra2
BACKGROUND
Thyroid carcinoma is overwhelmingly the most common type of endocrine malignancy. Clinically
recogni s ed thyroid carcinomas
constitute less than 1% of all malignant tumour. Improvements in diagnostics and understanding the pathophysiology have
made the treatment more effective with good long term results.
T
he aim of the study is t o study the clinical pattern, behaviour and management of carcinoma of thyroid.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
50
patients of histopathologically proven thyroid cancers treated during the period of 2 year s from May 2006 to May 2008 were
studied. Detailed history a nd physical findings were noted along with the investigati ons and treatment given.
RESULTS
Thyroid carcinoma formed 1.5% of all cancers treated during the period. It formed 17.45% of all thyroid swellings admitted fo
r
treatment during the same period. The ratio of female to male in this study was 2.9:1. Most of the cases of carcinoma (82%)
were seen in the 21 50 years age group. All patients in this study had a goitr e and 20% of patients presented with
lymphaden opathy and hoarseness of voice. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) was the common diagnostic test d one. Total
thyroidectomy was the most common surgery done and papillary carcinoma was the most common histopathology seen.
Transient hypocalc a emia was the most common postoperative complication seen in 20% of patients.
CONCLUSION
Thyroid cancers affect yo
ung adult females presenting as slow growing tumo u rs. Majority of the tumo u rs are papillary type in
the early stage with good prognosis. FNAC is a simple test to detect cancer and total thyroidectomy is the procedure of choic e
for treatment.
