THE ROLE OF THYROID STIMULATING ANTIBODIES OF GRAVE'S DISEASE IN DIFFERENTIATED THYROID CANCER

Many previous researches have indicated increased aggressiveness of thyroid cancer in patients suffering from Grave’s disease. The thyroid stimulating antibodies are considered as the main reason for aggravating aggressiveness of thyroid malignancy (Belfiore, Garofalo & Giuffrida 1990). It has also been noted that thyroid nodules are found three times more in patients of Grave’s disease as compared to the general population.

300 patients of Grave’s disease visiting different hospitals were selected for the present study. These patients were assessed on terms of having cancer. Out of 300 Grave’s disease patients, differentiated thyroid cancer was found to be present in 233 patients. Ultrasonography is useful in detecting cancers in thyroid gland during initial examination. Thus, it is possible and important to identify cancer at early stages of Grave’s disease. The patients with Grave’s disease may show additional multifocality, distant metastatis and lymph node metastasis. The same has been found in present study. The autoimmune process of Grave’s disease is considered to influence evolution of thyroid cancer through changes in host immune responses. The surgery and antithyroid drug therapy can help in regaining immunological potency in patients with grave’s disease. It is suggested that patients with Grave’s disease should undergo thorough thyroid gland examination by ultrasonography.It can be concluded that the thyroid stimulating antibodies of Grave’s disease are associated with occurrence of cancer in individuals.