Spectrum of Surgically Treated Thyroid Diseases at National Cancer Institute of Misurata, Libya, from Jan 2014 to Jan 2018: Special Emphasis on Thyroid Cancer

Abstract

The principal diseases of the thyroid gland are goiter (diffused or nodular), hypo or hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis, and neoplasms. The incidence and prevalence of these thyroid diseases in a given community are variable depending on various factors. This study aims to provide data about the pattern of thyroid diseases in our institution. A special emphasis on thyroid cancer cases will be addressed. Retrospective analysis of data of all thyroidectomy cases over four years (Jan 2014- Jan 2018) operated on in the National Cancer Institute, Misurata, Libya.  Patients with preoperative hypoparathyroidism, chronic kidney disease, or a history of dysphonia were excluded. Age, gender, clinical information, complications, and cytology results were studied. Data were collected from medical records. A total of 222 cases were collected. Females accounted for 68% and males for 32% of the cases. Most patients were in their 3rd and 4th decades of life and lived in urban areas, and the patient's ages range from 30 to 65 years. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) was done in 100 cases and showed benign findings in 83% and malignant findings in 5% of cases. Hypocalcemia (9%), hoarseness of voice (10%), bleeding (3.1%), and vocal cord injury (1.8%) were the common complications encountered. In the present cohort, thyroid malignancy accounts for 5% of thyroid disease. Hypocalcemia was the most common post-thyroidectomy complication, and voice changes, seroma, hematoma, and tracheal injury are rare complications. We need more multicentric studies to investigate the national pattern of thyroid diseases in Libya.