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Papillary thyroid carcinoma in black thyroids
Emad Kandil1, Mohamed Abdel Khalek, Wael G Ibrahim
1Department of Surgery, Division of Endocrine and Oncologic Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. ekandil@tulane.edu
Head & Neck
|March 19, 2011
Summary
Black thyroid glands, though rare, are linked to a higher risk of malignancy compared to non-black thyroids. This study found no correlation between pigment presence and tumor characteristics in papillary thyroid cancer.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Surgical Pathology
- Oncology
Background:
- Black thyroid is a rare condition historically linked to minocycline, but also seen in hemochromatosis, ochronosis, mucoviscidosis, and hemorrhage.
- A potential association between black thyroid and thyroid cancer has been suggested but not definitively established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the malignant potential of black thyroid glands.
- To determine if the presence of pigment in black thyroids correlates with specific cancer characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 433 thyroid surgery cases from 2001-2008.
- Patients categorized into benign, papillary thyroid carcinoma, and non-papillary thyroid carcinoma groups based on pathology.
Main Results:
- 15% of patients (63/433) presented with black thyroid glands and nodules.
- Nodules in black thyroids showed a significantly higher risk of malignancy (32-33%) compared to non-black thyroids (p = .0001).
- In papillary thyroid carcinoma cases, pigment presence did not correlate with tumor size or multifocality.
Conclusions:
- Black thyroid gland findings are unusual and warrant attention due to an increased risk of malignancy.
- This study is the first to document the elevated malignant potential of black thyroid glands.
- Pigment in black thyroids does not appear to influence the characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer.
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