Peng Wang1, Zhaohai Jing2, Changjiang Liu1, Meihua Xu1, Pei Wang1, Xiao Wang1, Yulei Yin1, Ying Cui1, Dunlin Ren3, Xiaopang Rao4. 1. Department of Endocrinology, Chengyang People's Hospital of Qingdao City, Qingdao 266003, China. 2. Department of Endocrinology, People's Hospital of Ri Zhao, Ri Zhao 276800, China. 3. Emergency Department, Chengyang People's Hospital of Qingdao City, Qingdao 266003, China. 4. Department of Endocrinology, Chengyang People's Hospital of Qingdao City, Qingdao 266003, China. Electronic address: qdraoxiaopang@163.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Several epidemiological studies investigated the relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and risk of thyroid cancer, but the results were not consistent. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the impact of HCV infection on thyroid cancer risk. METHODS: The literature was searched up to March 15, 2016 for case-control or cohort studies on the association between HCV infection and thyroid cancer risk. The summary relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Five studies (two case-control studies and three cohort studies) were included in the meta-analysis, with a total of 751,551 participants and 367 cases of thyroid cancer. Meta-analysis of those 5 studies found that there was no statistically significant association between HCV infection and thyroid cancer risk (summary RR=2.09, 95%CI 0.78-5.64, p=0.145; I2=81.2%). However, HCV infection was significantly associated with increased risk of thyroid cancer (summary RR=2.86, 95%CI 1.63-5.03, p=0.003; I2=24.9%) after adjusting the heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: There is a possible association between HCV infection and increased risk of thyroid cancer, and more cohort studies are needed to validate the possible association.
PURPOSE: Several epidemiological studies investigated the relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and risk of thyroid cancer, but the results were not consistent. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the impact of HCV infection on thyroid cancer risk. METHODS: The literature was searched up to March 15, 2016 for case-control or cohort studies on the association between HCV infection and thyroid cancer risk. The summary relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Five studies (two case-control studies and three cohort studies) were included in the meta-analysis, with a total of 751,551 participants and 367 cases of thyroid cancer. Meta-analysis of those 5 studies found that there was no statistically significant association between HCV infection and thyroid cancer risk (summary RR=2.09, 95%CI 0.78-5.64, p=0.145; I2=81.2%). However, HCV infection was significantly associated with increased risk of thyroid cancer (summary RR=2.86, 95%CI 1.63-5.03, p=0.003; I2=24.9%) after adjusting the heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: There is a possible association between HCV infection and increased risk of thyroid cancer, and more cohort studies are needed to validate the possible association.