DIAGNOSTIC, CLINICAL AND ANATOMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THYROID-CARCINOMA - STUDY OF 126 CASES

A retrospective review was conducted among 126 patients treated for thyroidal carcinoma -86 papillary, 31 folicular, 4 anaplasic, 1 lymphoma, and 4 non-familiar medular- in our area between 1979 and 1992. Diagnostic and clinical findings obtained were evaluated along with those from physical examinations, imaging techniques (i.e., echography and gamma spectrometry), and histological study (i.e., fine needle puncture-aspiration and intraoperatory biopsy). The majority (88 cases) presented a hard node or one of elastic consistency, while in 34 cases, there was a diffuse or nodular increase. Only four patients manifested a normal thyroid in the physical examination. A 2.4% had a normal gammagraphy, 70% presented a cold node, 1.6% an alient node, and there was evidence of heterogenous uptake in 23.7%. In the echography study, 63.3% were noted as being solid nodes, 11.4% as cysts, and 24% as mixed. The sensitivity of the fine needle puncture-aspiration was 76.4% and 66.6% for intraoperative biopsy.