ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency of Thyroid Cancer in solitary nodules of thyroid
Study design: A Retrospective descriptive study
Place and duration: The study was conducted from 1[st] January, 2000 to 31[st] May, 2010 at SOMH [Fauji Foundation Hospital] Karachi and from 1[st] July, 2010 to 31[st] December, 2013 at Al-Tibri Medical College and Hospital, Isra University, Karachi Campus
Methodology: One hundred and ninety consecutive cases of solitary thyroid nodule presented and operated were included in the study. Patients with multi-nodular goiters were not included in the study. Hemi thyroidectomy was done and if histopathology examination revealed carcinoma, then total thyroidectomy was followed. Results for frequency and percentages were calculated and analysed
Results: Out of Total 190 Cases, 61.58% were females and 38.42% were males. Important presenting symptoms were dysphagia [15.26%], palpitations [14.21%], rapid increase in size [13.68%], apart from the nodule [100%] in thyroid gland. Most of the cases were in 4[th] decade [35.26%], followed by 3[rd] decade [22.63%] of life. Most of the nodules were benign [91.57%] which included adenoma colloid goiter [42.94%] follicular adenoma [36.81%], simple cysts [18.40%]. Malignant nodules were 8.42%, which included papillary carcinoma [75%], follicular carcinoma [18.75%] and medullary carcinoma [6.25%]. No case of anaplastic carcinoma was found
Conclusion: Solitary thyroid nodules are mostly benign and malignant nodules are mostly well differentiated Carcinomas