İnvestigate the risk of development of thyroid malignancies among the kidney recipients

Kidney transplantation is the most privileged choice of the treatment of end stage renal failure (ESRD). While the most common early complications after transplantation are acute rejection (AR) and infections, late complications include malignancies and cardiovascular complications. Thyroid metabolism shows alterations in the course of end stage renal failure, however it reverses during the 6 month period of posttransplantation. Kidney recipients are at risk of goiter, thyroid nodules and thyroid cancers. This study was conducted to asses thyroid functions as well as to investigate the risk of development of thyroid malignancies among the kidney recipients of our center.122 kidney recipients were enrolled in this study. 76 of them were men while 46 were women. The mean age of the study group was 39.8±12.1 and the mean follow-up period posttransplantation was 59.9±49.5 (6-372) months. The laboratory findings revealed euthyroid function in 108 (88.5%), subclinical hypothyroidism in 2, subclinical hyperthyroidism 10 and solely low T3 in 2 patients. Thyroid antibodies were negative in all patients.The mean thyroid volumes were 14.2±7.2 ml. Goiter was detected in 112 (91.8%) patients while 49 (40.2%) had at least one thyroid nodule. The mean age of patients with any thyroid nodule was 42.1±10.8 years and the mean posttransplantation follow up period was 54.7±38.7 months. Among the patients with any thyroid nodule, 43 (87.8%) were euthyroid, 1 had subclinical hypotiroidism, 4 had subclinical hyperthyroidism and 1 had a low T3 syndrome. 24 (48.9%) patients underwent a thyroid fine needle aspiration. The remaining patients were followed up by ultrasonography. 2 patients underwent thyroid surgery for the suspicion of thyroid cancer. Only 1 patient (0.8%) was diagnosed for thyroid papillary cancer and underwent total thyroidectomy.In conclusion; because thyroid malignancies go along asymptomatic, kidney recipients should be yearly screened by thyroid ultrasonography.