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Autoimmune thyroiditis in benign and malignant thyroid nodules: 16‐year results
Author(s) -
Giagourta Irene,
Evangelopoulou Catherine,
Papaioannou Garyfallia,
Kassi Georgia,
Zapanti Evangelia,
Prokopiou Maria,
Papapostolou Konstantinos,
Karga Helen
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.23331
Subject(s) - medicine , autoimmune thyroiditis , thyroiditis , thyroid , thyroid nodules , autoimmune disease , nodule (geology) , pathology , disease , paleontology , biology
Background It is controversial whether autoimmune thyroiditis is associated with higher frequency of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods This was a cross‐sectional, retrospective study. PTCs were compared to benign nodules regarding the prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis over 16 years. Results A similar proportion of autoimmune thyroiditis was observed in both benign and/or malignant nodules. Mean nodule size in cases with autoimmune thyroiditis was smaller than those without autoimmune thyroiditis. Multivariate analysis showed a negative association between the coexistence of autoimmune thyroiditis and lymph node and/or distant metastases. Lymph nodes involvement and distant metastases were lower in the PTC with autoimmune thyroiditis compared to those without autoimmune thyroiditis. Capsular invasion was a strong predictor for distant metastases attenuated by the presence of autoimmune thyroiditis. Conclusion Thyroid nodules with autoimmune thyroiditis are not more likely to be malignant than those without autoimmune thyroiditis. The coexistent autoimmune thyroiditis may be beneficial as a decreased incidence of lymph nodes involvement and distant metastasis was seen in those patients. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36 : 531–535, 2014