Papillary Thyroid Cancer: Prevalence, Diagnosis Methods, Symptoms and Management Options in Tripoli, Libya

Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of thyroid cancer, affecting the thyroid gland in the neck. It can cause the thyroid gland to swell and lead to symptoms such as difficulty swallowing and shortness of breath. Treatment for papillary thyroid cancer usually involves surgically removing the affected gland and undergoing radiation or chemotherapy if necessary. It is important to detect this type of cancer in its early stages to increase the chances of recovery. Papillary thyroid cancer is a public health concern due to its recent increase in prevalence in the world. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of papillary thyroid cancer among the population in the Tripoli area, Libya, and to evaluate some of the contributing factors, including gender, age, and iodine deficiency in the body. A study was conducted on 200 people, women and men, covering most age groups from two hospitals (Tripoli University Hospital & Al-Zawiya Street Central Hospital) in the Tripoli region, western Libya. The extent of the disease was determined using a questionnaire filled out form patient files. In general, the prevalence of papillary thyroid cancer was (27.5%). Of which (75.9%) are females and (24.1%) are males. In addition, the highest prevalence rate was in the age group of 36-55 years. The most common cause of infection is a lack of Iodine in the body, and the most prominent symptom that explains the disease is the emergence of lymph nodes in the neck.