Outcome analysis of differentiated thyroid cancer: Experience from tertiary care in Karachi

Although differentiated thyroid cancers have a good prognosis overall, their incidence is on the rise with extremely limited data available in our region. The objective was to describe the outcomes of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in a tertiary care hospital.

This was a retrospective study conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital. The data was collected by reviewing the charts and reports of patients (1999-2011) diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer. Information regarding the demographic status, type of differentiated thyroid cancer, stage at the time of presentation, and the outcome was noted. The study endpoints were the disease cure, persistence, and recurrence.

Most of the patients were diagnosed with papillary carcinoma stage-I (49.0%) having a cure rate of 52.94%, a persistence rate of 28.43%, and a recurrence rate of 18.62%. A 33.3% of patients with follicular carcinoma at stage-4 had zero cure rate, the persistence rate was 25% and the recurrence rate was also 25%. In patients with hurthle cell variant of follicular carcinoma; the majority (60.0%) were diagnosed at stage-I having a cure rate of 80%. The persistence rate was 0%, and the recurrence rate was 20%.

This study highlights the low cure rate while describing the high rate of disease persistence and recurrence. This can be due to delays related to the diagnosis and scarcity of proper treatment. Recognition of this emergent disease is vital so that curative methods prescribed at proper time can diminish the morbidity and mortality linked with this treatable cancer.