THYROID CANCER CASES IN PATIENTS AGED 85+ IN LVIV REGION, UKRAINE (1991–2024): A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS BASED ON REGIONAL CANCER REGISTRY DATA

Aim. To analyze thyroid cancer cases among individuals over 85 years old in the Lviv region (Ukraine) during 1991–2024. Materials and methods. Our retrospective study analyzed thyroid cancer cases among 22 patients aged 85+ living in urban and rural areas of the Lviv region (Ukraine) within 34 years based on the Cancer Registry of Lviv Oncology Regional Treatment and Diagnostic Center. Results. As of January 1, 2022, the population of the Lviv region was 2.478 million, including 37,757 individuals aged over 85. The database registered 6,499 long-lived patients with cancer and 22 patients (19 women and three men) with thyroid cancer aged 85+ (median age 87.5 ± 2.3 years). The male-to-female ratio was 1 to 6.3. We analyzed demographics, cancer stage, treatment approaches, and survival outcomes. All cases were diagnosed by ultrasound because biopsy was considered too risky for the elderly due to the high risk of life-threatening complications. Three women had a history of multiple myeloma, malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri, and breast cancer. Thyroid cancer developed from 13 to 33 years after the women were diagnosed with the first tumor. Urban residents over 85 were more frequently diagnosed with thyroid cancer than rural residents (p = 0.045), likely due to better diagnostic access in cities. Survival was generally poor (median 3 months), with men (p = 0.029) showing better outcomes than women. Untreated patients sometimes exhibited unexpectedly longer survival, possibly reflecting biological or care-related differences. Conclusions. This study highlights the increasing diagnosis of thyroid cancer in the elderly over 85, particularly among women, with a very short survival time averaging 2-3 months. This research underscores the importance of balancing treatment decisions with quality of life for elderly patients and emphasizes the need for targeted approaches to manage thyroid cancer in the aging population.