[Papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma: long-term course in 339 patients of the Zurich University Hospital 1960 to 1988 and review].

Survival rates, tumor control and complications in 339 patients with follicular or papillary carcinoma of the thyroid treated at the clinics of radio-oncology and nuclear medicine during the period 1960-1988 were analyzed. Operable tumors were treated by subtotal thyroidectomy or various modes of uni- or bilateral subtotal resection combined with eradication of remaining thyroid tissue with iodine 131 or percutaneous irradiation, the latter limited in the seventies to patients with local or regional tumor extension. Further 131I was administered when iodine-incorporating tissue was detected. Mortality due to tumor was under 5% in patients younger than 40, 2-20% in older patients with tumor stages T1-3 N0-1 M0 or T2-3 N0 M0, 53 to 74% in various groups T4 N0-2 M0 and over 40, and more than 85% in patients over 40 with distant metastasis. When the total activity of 131I was limited to 1 Ci (37 Gbq), an increased incidence of leukemias or cancer of the bladder was not observed. These observations are discussed and compared with data from published reports. A scheme for treatment and follow-up is presented.