Carcinoma of the thyroid at Harare histopathology laboratory (Zimbabwe)

The carcinoma of the thyroid gland seen at Harare Histopathology Laboratory (Zimbabwe) has been reviewed and analysed. There was a male to female ratio of 1:4. The commonest histological type of tumour was follicular carcinoma (70%). There were equal numbers of papillary and anaplastic types (14% each). Only two cases of medullary carcinoma were found, one of these being in a twelve-year-old female patient. The finding of a high occurance of follicular carcinoma is consistent with Zimbabwe being a country where endemic goitre is common.