Gökçen Güngör SEMİZ, Sabay AKBAŞ, Selda ARSLAN, Şeyhmus ABAKAY, Guljahan HATAMOVA, Ahmet Ömer İKİZ, Merih Güray DURAK, Hüseyin Salih SEMİZ, Hülya ELLİDOKUZ, Özhan ÖZDOĞAN, Abdurrahman ÇÖMLEKÇİ
Journal of Basic and Clinical Health Sciences - 2026;10(3):457-470
Background and Purpose: To evaluate whether hepatitis B (HBV) or C (HCV) seropositivity and thyroid autoimmunity are associated with aggressive histopathological features of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 521 patients with histologically confirmed PTC. HBV serology was available in 289 patients, HCV in 292, anti-TPO in 175 and anti-Tg in 208 (complete-case analyses). Subgroups by serostatus, age, sex and autoantibody status were compared with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and an exploratory multivariable model was fitted for extrathyroidal extension (ETE). Results: Twelve of 289 tested patients (4.2%) were HBsAg-positive and 4 of 292 (1.4%) anti-HCV-positive. No association was detected between viral seropositivity and aggressive features (minimum detectable OR >= 4.6). Age <= 55 years was associated with central lymph node metastasis (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.33-4.41), and anti-TPO and anti-Tg positivity with ETE (OR 3.53, 0.97-12.76; OR 2.88, 1.07-7.79); anti-TPO also with capsular invasion (OR 2.25, 1.11-4.57). After adjustment, none remained significant. Conclusion: In this cohort, no statistically significant association was detected between HBV or HCV seropositivity and aggressive clinicopathological features; given the small seropositive subgroups, this is not evidence of absence. Younger age and thyroid autoimmunity were not independent predictors.
