Case Series Of Local Experience In Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Management In The Department Of Nuclear Medicine And Research In Zambia.

Abstract

Thyroid cancer accounts for about 2% of all malignancies in the world. The incidence has tripled in the USA from 1975 to 2009 and worldwide due to incidental detection of small volume papillary carcinomas on imaging studies. The increase in incidence could be related to increased use of imaging modalities and fine needle aspiration with changes in histologic criteria. This maybe similar to the Zambian scenario which has led to early diagnosis and prompt treatment in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate differentiated thyroid cancer management of the first two cases in nuclear medicine department. This was a case series design. It looked at the first two patients who diagnosed and managed at the Department of Nuclear Medicine and research, the university Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. The cases were selected using convenience sampling and included the first two cases. The participants included two females aged 66 (Case 1) and 48 (Case 2) referred from local clinic and medical admission ward respectively. Case 1 presented with invasive and incompletely excised papillary thyroid carcinoma, classic variant type with no metastases. Case 2 presented with papillary thyroid cancer diffuse variant and no metastases. The treatment plan for both cases included thyroidectomy and I131 ablation with excellent response. The use of radioactive iodine therapy in management of DTC is well established as it may reduce risk of recurrence, improves patients quality of life and overall survival rate.