European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Thyroid diseases are endemic in India with around 42 million people suffering from them.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common autoimmune pathology of the thyroid gland. Papillary
carcinoma thyroid is the most common thyroid cancer. The objective of this article is to study coexistence
of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis with papillary thyroid cancer.
Methods: Our study was prospective study carried out on 123 patients in the age group 14-65 in the
department of surgery Sree Gokulam Medical college and research foundation Venjaramoodu during the
period November 2011 to February 2013.A history was taken followed by clinical examination. They
were then investigated by thyroid function test, ultrasound neck X-ray neck, X-ray chest, indirect
laryngoscopy, fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and anti-thyroid antibody tests. The patients were
taken up for surgery and histopathology reports were correlated with the findings of FNAC and antithyroid
antibodies.
Results: Out of the 123 patients who enrolled. For our study 115 were females. All patients presented
with a swelling in the neck. FNAC showed 70(56.9%) colloid goitre, 14(11.4%) had Hashimoto’s
thyroiditis, 11(8.9%) follicular neoplasm and 4(3.3%) papillary thyroid cancer. 60(48.8%) of patients of
123 had abnormal Anti- TPO antibodies and 70(56.9%) had positive Anti- thyroglobulin antibody. Of
the 123 patients 38(30.89%) had thyroiditis. 19(15.44%) patients had papillary thyroid cancer and 5(4%)
had papillary thyroid cancer and thyroiditis at the same time. All patients with papillary carcinoma
thyroid and thyroiditis were females.
Conclusion: In a country like India were thyroid diseases are endemic, benign thyroid diseases are very
common. Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common thyroid cancer and according to our study has a
26.3% coexistence with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis which is the commonest auto immune thyroid disease.
From this study we conclude that careful workup and surgery are recommended when dealing with
patients with thyroiditis especially women.