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

Abstract

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.