[Predictive elements of malignancy of isolated thyroid nodules]

Tunis Med. 2002 Sep;80(9):536-41.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The clinically revealed thyroid nodules are very frequent (3 to 5% of the general population), among them, fewer than 10% are malignant. The objective of this retrospective study type witness-case is to determinate the malignity predictive clinical and paraclinical elements for 45 patients presenting a thyroid malignant nodule and 45 others matched by age and sex presenting a thyroid isolated nodule. These patients were treated at the ORL ward of Charles Nicolle Hospital over a period of 10 years from 1989 to 1999. The average age of advent of malignant nodule is 43.2 + 14.4 years old with a clear female predominance (sex ratio = 4). The elements clearly linked to the hazard of thyroid cancer are loss of weight (p = 0.05; OR = 8.11), hard consistency of nodule (p = 0.002), the presence of cervical adenopathies (p = 0.05; OR = 4.22), vocal cords paralysis (p = 0.04), the presence of anemia (p = 0.01; OR = 5.7), a solid structure at sonography (p = 0.05) and the presence of a flux at doppler-sonography (p = 0.02). Personal antecedents of non malignant thyroid pathology, the nodule location and size and hypoechogenic features have not been clearly associated with the hazards of thyroid cancer.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Precancerous Conditions
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sex Factors
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Thyroid Nodule / complications
  • Thyroid Nodule / pathology*
  • Weight Loss