Abstract
To determine the frequency of thyroid carcinoma in multinodular goiter in patients
undergoing thyroidectomy.
Patients and Methods
This retrospective study was carried out at two private hospitals including a teaching
University Hospital i.e. Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad over a period of three years
from April 2005 to March 2008. All patients who underwent different types of thyroid
surgeries during this period were included in the study. All data including age, gender,
relevant investigations like ultrasonography, fine needle aspiration cytology, type and
duration of surgery and final histopathology report were recorded on a standard form.
Results
Out of 140 patients operated for different thyroid operations, 15 had thyroid carcinoma.
Among them, 105 patients had multinodular goiter and eight (7.6%) had different thyroid
cancers among these multinodular goiters. Papillary carcinoma was found to be the most
common cancer in patients with multinodular goiter.
Conclusion
The risk of malignancy in multinodular goiter should not be underestimated as majority
of the patients with thyroid cancers presents with multinodular goiter. (Rawal Med J
2010;35: ).
Key words: Multinodular goiter, thyroidectomy, thyroid cancer
