Risk factors associated with malignancy of thyroid nodules in adult womens

A single-center observational study.

Abstract

Introduction: Although most thyroid nodules are benign, asymptomatic, and stable in the clinical history of a female patient, in ultrasound, cytological, and histopathological studies, it has been possible to obtain the subclinical characterization of lesions suggestive of malignancy. The current study aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with the malignancy of thyroid nodules in adult patients.

Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective, correlational study with a mixed approach was carried out in the endocrinology service of the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital between January and June 2019. The study population consisted of all patients diagnosed with thyroid nodules. The Bethesda system was used for reporting.

Results: There were 132 patients with thyroid nodules aged between 45 and 64 (57.6%). In a premenopausal state (52%), there was one pregnancy (12%), glucose >100 mg/dL (34%), BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 kg/m2 (49%) and a family history of thyroid cancer (35%). Thirty patients had TSH values >4.00 µUI/mL (23%). In the Bethesda system, 22 cases (17%) were Category IV, 17 cases (13%) were Category V, and 11 cases (8%) were Category VI.

Conclusions: The most frequent thyroid cytological lesion found was a benign neoplasm. However, malignant lesions and indeterminate follicular lesions presented a prevalence of 8%. A significant association was found between malignant cytology nodules with elevated TSH levels and a family history of thyroid cancer.