Pattern of thyroid diseases : a histopathological study

Abstract EN

Objective : The aim of this study is to describe the clinicopathological findings of thyroidectomy specimens.

Setting : Bahrain Defence Force Royal Medical Services Hospital – Bahrain.

Design : Retrospective Study.

Method : This is a study of all cases of thyroidectomy specimens diagnosed from January 2000 to December 2004; all histology reports, clinical information and stained slides were reviewed.

Thyroid diseases were grouped into different categories according to gender and age distribution.

Result: One hundred and ten cases of thyroidectomy specimens were found, 84 females and 26 males with female: male ratio 3.2:1.

Fifty cases (45.5 %) of Nodular goiter were seen, it was the most common thyroid disease followed by malignancy 26 (24 %), follicular adenoma 17 (15.5 %), primary thyrotoxicosis 9 (8 %) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis 8 (7 %).

Age range for colloid goiter was 19- 67, malignancy 21-82, follicular adenoma 20-69, primary thyrotoxicosis 20-42 and Hashimoto's thyroiditis 20-56.

Colloid goiter had a peak at age group 31-40 years.

Papillary carcinoma was the commonest malignant thyroid tumour (25 cases).

All cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis were females (100 %).

Primary thyrotoxicosis was the only thyroid disease with male: female ratio 2:1.

Conclusion : In this study, Thyroid malignancy accounted for 24 % of patients with thyroid swelling who underwent surgery.

Identification of thyroid malignancy requires proper diagnostic tools including ultrasonography, reliable FNAC technique and proper pathological examination.