Geriatric Importance of Histopathological Parameters Evaluated in Thyroidectomy Specimens: A Single Center Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Nowadays, the aging human population exerts a notable influence on the treatment of thyroid diseases. The most appropriate approach for the treatment of benign and malignant thyroid diseases in older adults has not yet been determined. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of thyroidectomies in geriatric patients considering age, sex and histopathological parameters and to determine the importance of thyroidectomy as a treatment option in the geriatric population. A total of 910 cases from all age groups were included, for which thyroidectomies were examined and reported. In accordance with the College of American Pathologists Cancer Protocol for thyroid reporting, considering geriatric patients, the rate of Thyroid Follicular Nodular Disease was significantly higher among the tumor types in the benign tumor group (p = 0.033), while Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma rate was higher in the malignant tumor group. The diagnosis rate of malignant tumors was higher in males, reflecting a more advanced pT stage (p < 0.001), larger tumor size (p < 0.001) and increased lymph node involvement rate (p = 0.039). Given that increasing age is associated with a heightened incidence of thyroid disease, the safety of surgery for geriatric patients is an important issue. Thyroidectomy should be considered in the treatment of these patients, especially in males, as the rate of malignant diagnosis and worse histopathological parameters are seen with increasing age.