Demographic review, clinical and histological presentation of patients with primary thyroid carcinoma presenting at tertiary care hospital

Background: Thyroid disorders are commonly seen in clinical practice. This study was conducted to describe demographic features, clinical presentation and histological pattern and its association with gender and ethnic region in patients with primary thyroid carcinoma presenting in Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, Pakistan.Methods: In a cross-sectional design, study was conducted in the outpatient and inpatient medical units of AKUH from December 2009 till September 2010. Patients (n=55) of primary thyroid carcinoma of age ≥14 years were included in the study. Patients were evaluated by history, clinical examination, biochemical, histological and radiological investigations. Data was recorded on specified proforma after written informed consent.Results: Out of 55 cases 44 (80%) papillary, 6 (11%) follicular, 2(3.6%) medullary, 1 (1.8%) anaplastic and 2 (3.6%) had Hurthle cell carcinoma. Thyroid carcinoma was prevalent among females 38 (69%) as compared to males 17 (31%). The mean age (SD) was 41.8 (15.5) years. Most of them were Urdu speaking 19 (34.5%) followed by Sindhi 10 (18.2%), 2 (3.6%) had family history of thyroid carcinoma and other endocrine disorder. Various clinical presentations included neck swelling/mass in 54 (98%), weight loss in 34 (62%), cervical lymphadenopathy in 28 (51%), Dyspnea in 12 (22%), Dysphagia in 9 (16.4%), recent change of voice in 11 (20%), superior vena caval syndrome and stridor each in 2 (3.6%) of the patients.Conclusion: Thyroid carcinoma was common in females and prevalent in 3rd and 4th decades of life. Papillary carcinoma was the commonest among histological types, prevalent in Urdu speaking population with mass in the anterior neck and weight loss were common presenting features.