source: American journal of surgery

year: 2014

authors: Steinhagen E, Hui V W, Levy R A, Markowitz A J, Fish S, Wong R J, Sood R, Ochman S M, Guillem J G

BACKGROUND:
Patients with adenomatous polyposis may be at increased risk for developing thyroid cancer (TC). However, screening guidelines for TC in these patients are not well established.

METHODS:
Patients with a diagnosis of familial adenomatous polyposis, attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis, and gene mutation-negative adenomatous polyposis enrolled in our Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Family Registry were eligible for a screening thyroid ultrasound (US). Findings were reviewed by the study endocrinologist and intervention and/or follow-up determined.

RESULTS:
Fifty patients underwent screening thyroid US. Thirty-four (68%) patients had abnormal findings on US, including 27 (79%) with thyroid nodules. In 7 patients, US-detected thyroid nodules met established criteria for fine-needle aspiration. Of the 6 patients who underwent fine-needle aspiration, 2 (4%) were diagnosed with papillary TC. Both of these patients were female.

CONCLUSIONS:
A large proportion of adenomatous polyposis patients will have abnormal results on thyroid US, including suspicious-appearing thyroid nodules that when biopsied are malignant. Female patients have an apparently greater risk of developing TC. Polyposis patients, especially women, should be offered participation in a thyroid US screening program.