Thyroid Carcinoma in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital

Introduction: Thyroid carcinoma is a relatively uncommon disease with an estimated incidence of less than 1% of all cancers. Most of the thyroid carcinomas are papillary or follicular while medullary and anaplastic cancers are rare. The mainstay of treatment is total thyroidectomy, radioiodine and radiotherapy.

Aim: To review the clinico pathological features and management of thyroid carcinoma as seen in university of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

Patients and Methods: This is an 8 year retrospective study of all patients with thyroid carcinoma managed at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital from 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2015. Relevant data extracted from the records were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.

Results: Thirty two patients with thyroid carcinoma were analysed out of 222 cases of thyroid diseases seen within the study period. There were 10 males and 22 females giving a male to female ratio of 1:2.2. Their ages ranged from 24 to 64 years with a mean of 46.6±3.4 years and peak age incidence was in the 7th decade. Follicular carcinoma was the commonest histological type. All patients had subtotal lobectomy or thyroidectomy and post operative complications were observed in 7 (21.9%) patients. Mortality rate was 3.1%.

Conclusion: Carcinoma of the thyroid was most commonly seen in the 7th decade of life and predominantly in females with follicular carcinoma being the commonest histological type encountered. In order to reduce the incidence of follicular carcinoma, we advocate widespread introduction of dietary iodine supplementation.