January, 2003 -- According to Finnish research, a woman's chance of developing thyroid cancer may be doubled in the first 18 months after the hysterectomy surgery. The researchers found that women who had a hysterectomy were twice as likely as other women to be diagnosed with thyroid cancer within 6 months to 18 months after the operation.

The authors note that the risk of thyroid cancer likely increases as a result of the conditions that cause a woman to undergo hysterectomy, and not from the procedure itself.

According to the study, the risk of thyroid cancer among women who underwent hysterectomy was almost 40% higher than average, but the risks drop substantially more than 18 months post-surgery.

The researchers have claimed that they do not believe that hysterectomy itself does not cause increased risk of thyroid cancer. Rather, there appears to be some sort of connection or common background between the reason for the hysterectomy -- usually benign tumors called uterine fibroids, or excessive menstrual bleeding.

SOURCE: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2003;188:45-48.