RESUMO
Background: Thyroid cancers are rare but are reported as the most common endocrine malignancies. There is a regional variation in the incidence. Aim: To evaluate the incidence and histological pattern of thyroid cancer with respect to age and sex. Methods: A 20-year (1986-2005) retrospective study of thyroid neoplasms at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital; Benin City. Nigeria. Results: A total of 46 malignant tumours were diagnosed constituting 8.6of all thyroid lesions and 1.3of the malignant tumours seen during the period of study. Thyroid cancer was more prevalent in females with a female to male ratio of 1.9:1. Papillary carcinoma (47.8) was the most common histological type of thyroid cancer; followed by follicular carcinoma (30.4); anaplastic carcinoma (13.0); and Medullary carcinoma (8.7); in order of frequency. While papillary carcinoma was the most common histological type of thyroid cancer in females; follicular carcinoma was the predominant form of thyroid cancer in males. Papillary carcinoma was most prevalent in the third decade of life while follicular carcinoma was more frequent after the fourth decade of life. Anaplastic carcinoma occurred in the 6th decade. Conclusion: There is need for an increased level of awareness of the disease and the provision of cancer registries