Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Minimal Invasive Resection of Large Retrosternal Thyroid Goiter
Published on: September 20, 2024
Incidental thyroid carcinoma in patients with Graves' disease
Roy Phitayakorn1, Christopher R McHenry
1Department of Surgery, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2500 MetroHealth Dr., Cleveland, OH 44109, USA.
Background:
The clinical significance of incidental thyroid carcinoma in patients with Graves' disease is uncertain.
Methods:
The prevalence of incidental thyroid carcinoma was determined in patients with Graves' disease who underwent surgery from 1990 to 2007 and was compared with patients with nontoxic nodular goiter or toxic multinodular goiter who underwent surgery during the same time period.
Results:
Of the 93 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for Graves' disease, 2 patients (2.2%) had an incidental papillary carcinoma: .4 and .5 cm in size. Neither patient developed recurrent disease after 3 and 13 years of follow-up evaluation. The prevalence of incidental thyroid cancer was 3.6% and 6.2% in patients with nontoxic nodular goiter and toxic multinodular goiter, respectively (P = not significant).
Conclusions:
The prevalence of incidental thyroid carcinoma in patients with Graves' disease is comparable with patients with nontoxic or toxic goiter. Incidental thyroid carcinomas in patients with Graves' disease were papillary microcarcinomas of no clinical consequence.
Related Concept Videos
Graves' Disease I: Introduction
Graves Disease II: Pathophysiology
Hyperthyroidism I: Introduction
Hyperthyroidism II: Pathophysiology
Goiter
The Thyroid Gland
The follicles have a central cavity lined by simple cuboidal to squamous epithelial cells called follicular cells. These cells produce the glycoprotein...
