Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) combined with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is more common in clinical practice, maybe posing a serious threat to the health of patients. It is uncertain whether HT is a risk factor or protective factor for PTC. The aim of the study was to retrospectively explore the effect of HT on the biological behavior of PTC. METHODS: A total of 200 patients were included in the study. Among them, 100 patients with PTC without HT were in the control group (PTC group), and 100 cases diagnosed as PTC with HT were in the experimental group (HT + PTC group). The following data were counted and analyzed, respectively: (1) the basic clinicopathologic characteristics of patients; (2) postoperative thyroid function indicators; (3) blood biochemical indicators; (4) liver function indicators; and (5) histopathological report. RESULTS: Compared with the PTC group, women were predominant in the PTC + HT group (P < .05). In addition, the central lymph node metastasis rate, the number of cervical lymph node metastases, and the lateral cervical lymph node metastasis rate were significantly decreased (P < .05). Thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb) of the thyroid function index were significantly increased, while the thyroglobulin (TG) value was significantly decreased (P < .05). The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level of the liver function index was significantly decreased, while the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level was significantly increased (P < .05). In the pathological examination, a large number of mononuclear cells infiltrated in the lymphocyte follicular stroma. In an ultrasound examination, the boundary definition rate is lower. CONCLUSION: Women may be more susceptible to PTC or PTC and HT than men. Patients under 55 years old accounted for a larger proportion in PTC + HT than PTC. Hashimoto thyroiditis may play an inhibitory role in the occurrence of PTC, and the presence of HT is a protective factor for PTC.