Introduction:

The increasing incidence of differentiated thyroid cancer contrasts with its indolent nature. Understanding its clinical presentation, evolution, and treatment response provides essential information to optimize patient care.

Objective:

To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer in three regions of Uruguay.

Patients and methods:

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients diagnosed between 2001 and 2020 in public and private healthcare providers in the departments of Soriano, Río Negro (Young), and Rivera. Patients were categorized according to recurrence risk using the American Thyroid Association criteria.

Results:

Women accounted for 91 % of the patients, with a mean age at diagnosis of 45 years. Diagnoses increased over the study period, with papillary carcinoma being predominant and a mean tumor size of 18,6 mm. A total of 92 % of cases were classified as TNM stage I. Based on recurrence risk, 82 patients were low risk, 31 intermediate risk, and 13 high risk. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 121 patients, lobectomy in 4, and 1 patient underwent active surveillance. Radioiodine treatment was administered to 110 patients. Recurrence was observed in 9 cases, mainly associated with multifocality and lateral compartment lymph node metastases. At the end of follow-up, 72 % of patients were disease-free, and overall survival was 98 %, with a median follow-up of 7 years.

Conclusion:

The clinical characteristics of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer treated in endocrinology clinics in Uruguay’s interior regions are comparable to those seen in high-volume centers. Prognosis is excellent, and treatment has evolved according to updated recommendations based on recurrence risk.

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