[Current management of thyroid cancer in Hungary]

The incidence of thyroid cancer has risen significantly worldwide over the past two decades, while mortality rates have remained stable. Early detection and modern treatment protocols are keys to improving patient survival.

The primary objective of our study was to map domestic diagnostic and therapeutic practices in differentiated thyroid cancer. Our secondary objectives were to develop background material for national clinical protocols.

The retrospective study focused on the clinical data of patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer between 2011 and 2024. As there were no exclusion criteria, the results provided a representative picture of current diagnostic and therapeutic practices in Hungary.

We analyzed data of 893 patients (75.7% female, 24.3% male). The mean age of the study population was 53.1 ± 14.8 years. Differentiated thyroid cancers were predominant, with the papillary subtype accounting for 82.8% of cases. Most patients (63.5%) were diagnosed at an early stage (T1a-T1b); regional lymph node involvement occurred in 34%, and distant metastasis in 4.7%. Most patients underwent a single surgical procedure; the majority (80.8%) underwent total or near-total thyroidectomy. Procedures targeting regional lymph nodes were common, while radical neck dissection was less frequent, which is consistent with the typical locoregional spread of differentiated thyroid cancer and modern, targeted surgical strategies. Patients receiving radioiodine therapy underwent treatment an average of 1.41 times. Individual radioiodine doses varied significantly, with an average dose of 2,645 MBq, while the range of cumulative doses administered extended from 1,100 MBq to 11,000 MBq. The TSH-suppressive levothyroxine treatment was administered to 57.7% of patients. Systemic therapy was rarely used (in 3.2% of cases).

The study indicates that diagnostic and therapeutic practices in the management of thyroid cancer in Hungary are in accordance with international standards.

The study provided a comprehensive overview of the demographic, histological, and treatment characteristics of thyroid cancer patients in Hungary. The results may serve as a basis for further clinical research and follow-up analyses, facilitating the long-term optimization of thyroid cancer treatment and improving patient prognosis. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(37): 1468-1476.