Aim: In this study the incidence rate of familial non-medullary thyroid carcinoma was investigated in the first and second grade relatives of patients registered at the Clinic and Polyclinic for Nuclear Medicine, University of Würzburg.
Patients and methods: In this study 596 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma were enclosed, who were treated between 01.01.81 and 31.12.95. The data concerning a familial occurrence were studied by a retrospective survey-based analysis. These data were compared to a literature analysis for familial non-medullary thyroid carcinoma.
Results: 14 patients of the 596 patients treated showed a familial occurrence (2.3%). All these patients suffered from papillary thyroid carcinoma. According to the prognostic factors (tumor state, lymph node involvement, metastatic disease) no differences could be evaluated in the different groups (sporadic versus familial non-medullary thyroid disease).
Conclusion: A familial occurrence of differentiated thyroid carcinomas is not frequently observed, but should be considered due to further genetic diseases.