Thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer demonstrate age-specific prevalence, malignancy risk, and clinical behavior in octogenarians. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of octogenarian patients admitted to our outpatient clinic with thyroid nodules.

Patients operated between April 2012 and January 2023 were included in this study. Demographic data, ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) results, pathology results, and survival time were evaluated retrospectively.

A total of 25 patients were included [16 female (64%) and nine male (36%) ]. Eight patients were decided to follow-up for benign reasons. Seventeen patients (mean age at diagnosis 82,56±2,81) had suspicious nodules and FNAB results were: one (5,9%) benign cytology, ten (58,5%) AUS, three non-diagnostic (17,6%), two FLUS (11,8%) and one malignant cytology (5,9%). All risks and prognoses of the disease were explained to the patients and their relatives in detail, and seven patients accepted the surgery. Pathology results came out as one follicular carcinoma and six papillary carcinomas. Three patients underwent radioactive iodine ablation. During follow-up, four patients (57,1%) died in the operated group and another four (40%) died in the non-operated group, and survival time was found as 3,28 ± 2,05, 4,9 ± 3,78 respectively. The causes of death were myocardial infarction, COVID-related respiratory failure, gastrointestinal perforation, and decompensated heart failure in both groups.

Thyroidectomy for suspicious nodules in octogenarian patients is a safe option with an experienced team. Besides, death in these super-elderlies may not be related to cancer.