Clinical and Histological Characteristics of Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: Results of a Retrospective Study in 243 Patients

Context: The recognition of thyroid microcarcinoma has increased due to the widespread use of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe histological and clinical characteristics of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) less than or eq...

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Published in:The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2006-06, Vol.91 (6), p.2171-2178
Main Authors: Roti, Elio, Rossi, Roberta, Trasforini, Giorgio, Bertelli, Fiorenza, Ambrosio, Maria Rosaria, Busutti, Luciano, Pearce, Elizabeth N, Braverman, Lewis E, degli Uberti, Ettore C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biopsy, Needle
Carcinoma, Papillary - pathology
Carcinoma, Papillary - therapy
Endocrinopathies
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Iodine Radioisotopes - therapeutic use
Lymphatic Metastasis
Malignant tumors
Medical sciences
Retrospective Studies
Thyroid Neoplasms - pathology
Thyroid Neoplasms - therapy
Thyroid. Thyroid axis (diseases)
Thyroidectomy
Vertebrates: endocrinology
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Summary:Context: The recognition of thyroid microcarcinoma has increased due to the widespread use of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe histological and clinical characteristics of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) less than or equal to 1 cm. Design: This study was a retrospective cohort. Setting: This study was conducted at a university hospital endocrine clinic. Patients: Over a 9-yr period, 243 consecutive patients with PTMC were studied. Results: PTMC was an incidental finding at surgery in 21.4% of the PTMC cases. There were no differences in the clinical characteristics between those with incidental PTMC and those with suspected thyroid carcinoma. None of the patients with a cancer less than 8 mm had distant metastases, whereas distant metastases were observed in patients with cancers ≥ 8 mm (P ≤ 0.05). Disease-related mortality was not observed. Conclusions: PTMC is prevalent in the population. Among patients with PTMC, tumor size more than 8 mm is associated with more aggressive disease.
ISSN:0021-972X
1945-7197
DOI:10.1210/jc.2005-2372