Thyroid cancer in Yemen

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Thyroid cancer (TC) represents a significant health concern globally.
• Understanding the demographic, diagnostic, and treatment characteristics of TC patients is crucial for effective management and public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the demographic distribution, histological variants, presentation modes, and diagnostic and treatment modalities of thyroid cancer patients.
• To identify specific patient groups with a higher prevalence of thyroid cancer within the goiter population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective audit of 97 histologically confirmed thyroid cancer cases.
• Data collected from Kuwait University Hospital, Sana'a, Yemen, between 1997 and 2001.
• Analysis included patient demographics, clinical findings, histopathology, diagnostic methods, and treatment procedures.

Main Results:

• Thyroid cancer constituted 17.7% of goiter admissions; 89.7% of TC patients were female, with an average age of 38.4 years.
• Papillary carcinoma was the predominant histological type (93.8%), with a papillary/follicular ratio of 22:1.
• Multinodular swelling and hoarseness were common clinical findings; subtotal thyroidectomy was the most frequent treatment.

Conclusions:

• Papillary carcinoma is the dominant histological variant of thyroid cancer in this Yemeni cohort.
• The study suggests a potential impact of salt iodization programs on thyroid malignancy incidence and the papillary/follicular ratio.
• Enhanced expertise in fine needle aspiration and ultrasonography, alongside aggressive surgical management, is recommended; a national cancer registry is needed for Yemen.