THYROID CANCER COMPLICATING PREGNANCY

Thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer are more common in females than males. Because differentiated thyroid cancers mostly affect women during the childbearing years, the occurrence of thyroid cancer during pregnancy is not uncommon. Fine-needle aspiration is the diagnostic method of choice and is safe during pregnancy. Cancer discovered early in pregnancy can be safely operated on in the second trimester. Those cancers found in the second trimester can have treatment delayed until after delivery. The prognosis in differentiated thyroid cancers is excellent in this age group.