Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality as a confounder of prognosis in thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer (TC) constitutes more than 95% of all endocrine tumors. Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), which includes the papillary and follicular types, constitutes about 90% of all TCs and 2.1% of all cancers. The incidence of DTC has increased significantly worldwide, with papillary cancer leading this trend and being the most prevalent. Whereas the prognosis of patients with DTC is generally favorable, with the overall 5-year survival rate reaching up to 95%, long-term follow-up also discloses increased propensity for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk factors, morbidity, and mortality. Cardiovascular events are linked to TC particularly in subjects aged 45 years or more. The present review and analysis seek to highlight the significance of cardiovascular disease in the overall prognosis among TC survivors and explore potential mechanisms which might link treatment choices in DTC to cardiovascular risk and disease outcome.