Thyroid Cancer Profile: Experience of Liga Contra El Cancer Honduras 2014-2017

Abstract

Background: In recent years we have observed increase in thyroid carcinoma TC incidence at cancer centers in Honduras. TC is linked to exposure to ionizing radiation. Other risks factors described in literature are obesity, diabetes, nitrites and nitrates in diet and alcohol. DNA rupture, activation of oncogenes, and secretion of inflammatory cytokines are initial events that derive in mutations and malignant transformation. Papillar, follicular and undifferentiated carcinoma are the histologic types. Little is known about TC in the population, and there are no efficient models for prevention and early detection to date. Aim: Describe the clinical and demographic profile of patients diagnosed with TC at La Liga Contra el Cancer Hospital LCC from 2014-2017, with intention to identify patterns that allow approaches to pathogenicity and prevention. Methods: We revised 103 medical records of all TC patients treated at LCC from Jan 2014-December 2017 to obtain information about geographical origin, age, gender, localization of tumor, identifiable risk factor, treatment and outcomes. A digital database was in Microsoft Office Excel and exported to SPSS. Patient information was deidentified before data extraction. Results: 91.3% patients were female. Median age 49.3 ± 15.6 years (95% CI, 46.05-52.2). Patients went from 11/18 departments (political division), 74% gathered in the northern zone of the country. Histology type: papillary 91.3%; follicular 4.9%, anaplasic 1.9%; medullary 1.0%. Papillary TC, 37% of patients were in fifth decade, 22.9% in patients 31-40 yo, 17.3% in patients 41-50 yo, 9.7% were under 30s. Clinical stage at diagnosis: I I (n = 24) 23.6%, II (n = 13), 12.6%. III (n = 18), 17.5%. IV (n = 14), 15.6%; not suitable for staging 5.8%, the rest had no precise information for staging. 12.6% of patients reported family history of cancer (any type), 33% of patients reported comorbidities. Conclusion: Thyroid carcinoma has increased in the last years, from our experience we can identify that women are mostly affected, with papillary type being the most common. Ages affected are between 41-60 years old. One third of patients had comorbidities as hypothyroidism, diabetes and arterial hypertension. 74% reside in the northern zone of Honduras, there is need to elucidate if it is a matter of geographical location of the LCC. No emerging risk factors were identified in this cohort. More research is needed to profile thyroid carcinoma in our region.