[Precedents of benign thyroid pathology in carcinoma of the thyroid].

The clinical history of 125 thyroid cancer (99 women and 26 men) operated on between 1985 and 1992 is reviewed. Previous benign thyroid disease is recorded in 52% of all cancers; this was generally goitre or a thyroid nodule, and in few cases hyperthyroidism. Previous disease is observed in 75% of insular, in 68% of follicular, in 51.5% of papillary, in 35% of anaplastic carcinomas. It is supposed that previous thyroid disease is a risk factor in the development of cancer.