Characteristics of well-differentiated thyroid cancer associated with multinodular goiter

The likelihood of thyroid cancer is similar in patients with one or more nodules, but tumor characteristics of thyroid cancer in glands with multinodular goiter are unclear.

This study consisted of 100 consecutive patients (ages 15-81 years; 84 women), who underwent thyroidectomy for papillary or follicular thyroid carcinoma between 2005 and 2006. Patient demographics, diagnostic tests, operations, and pathological findings were reviewed.

In a univariate analysis, cancer diagnosed within multinodular goiter was different from solitary cancer nodule in age of diagnosis (48 vs 40 years, p = 0.002), tumor size (1.42 vs 2.20 cm, p = 0.024), and the presence of cervical lymph node metastases (p = 0.035). There was no difference in gender, extrathyroidal invasion, multifocality, and types of operation. Only age (odds ratio, 1.056) and tumor size (odds ratio, 0.730) revealed independent correlation in multivariate analysis.

Thyroid cancer in glands with multiple nodules is associated with older age at diagnosis and smaller tumor size.