Incidental Thyroid Carcinoma in Thyroidectomy Specimen with Clinical Correlation in Iraqi Patients

Abstract

Background:Incidental thyroid carcinoma is a clinically unsuspected carcinoma that was discovered by histopathological examination of a thyroidectomy specimen removed for benign diseases. Objectives:To evaluate the frequency of incidental thyroid carcinoma in the thyroidectomy specimens and how to avoid its sequel in Iraq. Materials and Methods:A retrospective study of 104 cases of total and subtotal thyroidectomy for benign diseases was collected from Al-Sader teaching hospital during 2019–2022, reviewed by two pathologists for incidental primary malignancy, and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Results:Incidental thyroid malignancy was detected in 10.54% of all cases. It had been found in 13.8% of multinodular goiter (MNG) cases. Eight cases out of eleven (72.7%) of incidental malignancies were detected in total thyroidectomy specimens and the same percentage of them were detected in MNG cases. Ten out of eleven cases (90.9%) of incidental carcinoma were papillary carcinoma type (six cases were micropapillary type and four cases were conventional type of papillary carcinoma) with one case of follicular carcinoma. Conclusion:MNG does not mean the absence of carcinoma in the thyroid gland. Total thyroidectomy is the best surgery to avoid complications of unsuspected carcinoma and the sequel of another surgery.

Keywords

• clinical correlation
• incidental
• iraqi patients
• thyroid carcinoma
• thyroidectomy specimen