Rising Trends and Regional Disparities: A Review of Thyroid Cancer Statistics in India

Thyroid cancer, the most prevalent endocrine malignancy globally, has shown a significant rise in incidence in India over recent decades, particularly among women in urban regions. This review synthesizes epidemiological trends, regional variations, and possible contributing factors influencing thyroid cancer burden in the Indian context. Data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Population-Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs), and PubMed-indexed literature between 2000 and 2024 was analyzed. The increasing incidence, particularly of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), is attributed to improved diagnostic modalities, higher awareness, urbanization, and possibly environmental exposures such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals. However, substantial disparities exist in access to healthcare between urban and rural populations, affecting timely diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. The marked female preponderance and rising detection of low-risk microcarcinomas have raised concerns of overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Despite the prognosis, especially for differentiated thyroid cancers, uniform access to specialized care remains a challenge. The lack of national screening guidelines and comprehensive thyroid cancer registries further limits effective policy-making. Addressing these gaps through targeted public health strategies, standardized clinical protocols, and nationwide surveillance is critical to managing the rising burden of thyroid cancer in India effectively.