Abstract

Objective: Nodules of the thyroid gland are frequently encountered, occurring in up to 7% of the population. Although most of these nodules are benign, carcinomas of the thyroid gland are the most common malignancy of the endocrine system. Clinically more than 50% of the marked single nodules have been observed as multinodular goiters or thyroiditis. Only 0.1- 0.2% of the (clinically observed) solitary multinodules have been observed as malignant. Thyroid lesions diagnosed in our department have been reevaluated to define their distribitution. Study Design: Between the years 2004-2008, 1632 thyroid operation materials have been inspected in the pathology department. Their histopathological features have been evaluated retrospectively Results: 84% of the 1632 thyroid materials have been diagnosed as benign, and 16% as malignant. Conclusion: Adenomatous hyperplasia is the most common thyroid diease. It has been diagnosed as 77.5% among the benign lesions. While thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine system malignancy, it constitutes less than 1% of the thyroid lesions. Most of the thyroid carcinomas are well differentiated and show favorable prognosis. Papillary carcinoma cases constitute 86.9% of the malignant tumors

Key words: Thyroid, thyroid nodule, thyroid cancer