Estrogen Receptor Expression Pattern in Papillary Thyroid Cancers: A 23 Years Retrospective Multi-Centre Study in Jos Metropolis, North-Central, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Introduction/Objective Papillary Thyroid cancers (PTC) are the commonest malignancy of this organ and seen more often in females. Estrogen Receptor (ER) is important in the pathogenesis of the disease and impacts on the prognosis. The aim is to establish ER status of PTC seen at the Jos University Teaching Hospital and other health institutions in Jos Metropolis. Methods/Case Report This was a hospital based, retrospective multicenter study. The biodata of histologically diagnosed PTC were obtained from surgical pathology cancer registries and archived histology request forms between 1st January 1998 and 31st December, 2020. Archival slides and fresh sections from tissue blocks were reviewed, classified and subjected to immunohistochemistry (polymer technique). They were scored (using Allred scoring system) and data analyzed using SPSS-20. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) A total of 53 (56%) cases of histologically diagnosed PTC out of 95 cases of thyroid cancers were included in the study. The mean, mode, median and age range were 44.7±15.4 years, 45 years, 43 years and 13-80 years respectively. Majority of cases were females (81.1%), this was replicated across all age groups. Out of the total number of PTC cases recorded, 36 (67.9%) were classical variant while the remaining 17 (32.1%) were follicular variants. Nine cases (17%) were positive for ER while 44 (83%) were negative. Out of the positive cases, 7 (77.8%) were females with 2 (22.2%) males. The total scores assigned to positive cases were 3 (66.7%) and 4 (33.3%) and were predominant in females in the 4th decade. Conclusion Majority of PTC were seen in females and were negative for ER. This suggest that very few of our patients are likely to benefit from selective estrogen receptor targeted therapy and therefore Surgery, Chemotherapy and Radioiodine therapy remain the main stay of treatment for most cases in our locality.