Incidencia de cáncer de tiroides en la provincia de Río Negro

Abstract

Introduction

The incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) has been increasing over the last twenty years or so. There are few data in our country with regard to the epidemiology of this disease.

Objective

To assess the incidence of thyroid cancer in the province of Río Negro (RN) for the period 2004- 2013.

Methods

All histological reports with TC diagnosis within the study period in the department of General Roca, which represents 50% of the population of RN province, were assessed. Incidence rates were calculated, and the study period was divided into two five-year segments to evaluate the possibility of an increased incidence. Other variables were also assessed, including age, sex, histological type, multicentricity, presence of metastatic lymph nodes, diagnosis and treatment, and whether in public or private health institutions.

Results

There was an incidence of 6.77 new cases/100,000 inhabitants/year, (10.76 in women and 2.48 in men).

Evaluation of the number of TC cases per five-year period showed 41 cases in the first period and 116 in the second, with an incidence rate that increased from 4.52 to 9.30/100,000 inhabitants/year. Almost all cases (98.7%) were found to be Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma, 22.9% showed metastatic lymph nodes, and 36.9% were multifocal. Also, of the total population in study, 80.2% were women, and 75.8% were treated in the private health sector. Mean tumour volume was 19.9 mm ± 14.32 mm, with no significant differences between the two study periods. An increase from 27% to 35% was observed in the proportion of tumours smaller than 10 mm in the second period. Although this increase was not statistically significanct (P = .35), a rising trend is observed.

Conclusion

Incidence of TC in the province of RN is similar to that reported in the literature and an increase in its incidence was observed during the study period.