Características demográficas, clínicas y distribución geográfica de pacientes con cáncer de tiroides en SOLCA, Cuenca-Ecuador 2021

Abstract

Worldwide, the incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) cases has increased and survival is related to early diagnosis and early treatment. Objective: To determine the frequency of thyroid cancer cases treated at the SOLCA Cancer Institute of the city of Cuenca, in the last 5 years, the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, treatment, variation according to time and geographical location. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out, based on the analysis of 247 records from the last 5 years of the SOLCA Cuenca Cancer Institute and data from the INEC. The qualitative variables were analyzed with frequencies and percentages; and quantitative ones, with measures of central tendency, using Excel 2019 programs and geographic location with Google maps. Results: TC occurs in 6 out of 10 people between 36 and 64 years of age, more in women than in men, most of them are married, residing in the province of Azuay, with occupation of domestic chores and primary education. As of 2016, there has been a slight increase in cases. Two out of every ten reside in the cantonal capital and various neighborhoods of the city of Cuenca. Among the main clinical features are thyroid nodules. Papillary cancer was identified in 94% of cases. Conclusions: CT is more frequent in women between 36 and 64 years of age, clinically characterized by the presence of thyroid nodules and histologically of the papillary type.