Evolving epidemiological patterns of thyroid cancer and estimates of overdiagnosis in 2013–17 in 63 countries worldwide: a population-based study

A recent study conducted by scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), in collaboration with researchers in China and Italy, provides the most comprehensive analysis to date of the epidemiological characteristics and trends of thyroid cancer across more than 60 countries on five continents. The study also provides estimates of overdiagnosis of thyroid cancer for 2013–2017.

In this population-based study, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, the researchers found that overdiagnosis accounts for a large proportion of the new diagnoses of thyroid cancer and that overdiagnosis has become a large problem worldwide. Overall, more than 1.7 million people may have been overdiagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2013–2017 in 63 countries.

Overdiagnosis can lead to aggressive treatments, physical and psychological harms, and financial burdens for individuals and health-care systems. This study underlines the global relevance of overdiagnosis of thyroid cancer, and its expansion to countries undergoing economic transition has been particularly rapid. The authors contend that this emerging global public health challenge needs to be urgently dealt with. An accompanying commentary was also published in the journal.

The incidence of thyroid cancer has increased quite rapidly in recent decades, to such an extent that the disease has become one of the most commonly diagnosed cancer types in many parts of the world, especially among young adults.

Li M, Dal Maso L, Pizzato M, Vaccarella S.
Evolving epidemiological patterns of thyroid cancer and estimates of overdiagnosis in 2013–17 in 63 countries worldwide: a population-based study
Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. Published online 8 October 2024;
https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(24)00223-7

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Read the commentary “The growing global burden of thyroid cancer overdiagnosis”