INCIDENTAL THYROID MALIGNANCY IN PATIENTS OPERATED FOR MULTINODULAR GOITER IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE IN KERALA

Background: Multinodulargoiter (MNG) is one of the most common thyroid disorders encountered in surgical practice and is traditionally regarded as a benign condition. However, increasing evidence suggests that a proportion of patients with apparently benign multinodulargoiter may harbor occult thyroid malignancy that remains undetected during preoperative evaluation. Limitations of diagnostic modalities such as ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), particularly in the setting of multiple nodules, contribute to this diagnostic challenge.Identification of incidental thyroid malignancy has significant implications for surgical planning, postoperative management, and long-term follow-up. Aim: To identify the incidence of incidental thyroid malignancy in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for multinodulargoiter. Objectives:To estimate the proportion of thyroid malignancies detected incidentally on histopathological examination following thyroidectomy for multinodulargoiter and to assess the demographic and clinical characteristics of these patients.