Epidemiology and Surgical Characteristics of Thyroid Cancer in United Arab Emirates: Review of 100 Consecutive Patients

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Thyroid cancer incidence is increasing globally. There is limited data regarding the epidemiology of thyroid cancer in the Middle East and North Africa region. This region has also experienced socioeconomic changes recently that have influenced the histopathological and epidemiological pattern of thyroid cancer. The aim of this study is to evaluate the histological, epidemiologic, and surgical factors of thyroid cancer patients who underwent thyroidectomy at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of patients who underwent thyroidectomy and found to have thyroid cancer over a 2-year period from July 2015 - July 2017. The histopathological data were reviewed based on the College of American Pathologists Protocol for Carcinomas of Thyroid Gland (American Joint Committee on Cancer, 7th edition, 2010). Results: One hundred patients underwent surgery for thyroid carcinoma in our patient population. In these cancer patients, the female to male ratio was 5.25:1 and 71 patients (71%) were below 45 years of age. The most common surgery performed was total thyroidectomy at 75.7%. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) was the most common pathology in 89%, followed by follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) in 9%, one case of mixed papillary follicular carcinoma, and one case of Hurthle cell carcinoma. Hypocalcemia was the most common postoperative complication (20.6%). Conclusion: PTC, traditionally seen in iodine sufficient regions, is the most common histologic subtype of thyroid cancer and its rates are increasing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Female gender and age <45 were associated with thyroid carcinoma in our UAE patient cohort.