Yonghan Kim1, Jong-Lyel Roh2, Dong Eun Song3, Kyung-Ja Cho3, Seung-Ho Choi1, Soon Yuhl Nam1, Sang Yoon Kim1. 1. Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jonglyel.roh@gmail.com. 3. Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is generally associated with favorable outcomes; however, intermediate-risk requires further evaluation. We therefore examined risk factors for posttreatment recurrence in patients with intermediate-risk PTC. METHODS: This study involved 1782 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for intermediate-risk PTC. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to identify the significant factors predictive of posttreatment recurrence-free survival (RFS). RESULTS: Of intermediate-risk factors, univariate analyses showed that clinical and pathological cervical lymph node (LN) positivity (cN1 and pN1), aggressive histology, and multifocality with microscopic extrathyroidal extension were significantly associated with RFS outcomes (all P < 0.05). In multivariate analyses, cN1, >5 pN1, and posttreatment radioactive iodine (RAI)-avid metastatic foci of intermediate risk remained the independent factors predictive of RFS (all P < 0.05). The combination of any three or more of these intermediate-risk factors appeared to increase the posttreatment recurrence rate. CONCLUSION: Clinical nodal positivity, the number of positive LNs, and the presence of RAI-avid metastatic foci in the ATA intermediate-risk category might independently decrease RFS in patients with intermediate-risk PTC.
BACKGROUND:Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is generally associated with favorable outcomes; however, intermediate-risk requires further evaluation. We therefore examined risk factors for posttreatment recurrence in patients with intermediate-risk PTC. METHODS: This study involved 1782 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for intermediate-risk PTC. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to identify the significant factors predictive of posttreatment recurrence-free survival (RFS). RESULTS: Of intermediate-risk factors, univariate analyses showed that clinical and pathological cervical lymph node (LN) positivity (cN1 and pN1), aggressive histology, and multifocality with microscopic extrathyroidal extension were significantly associated with RFS outcomes (all P < 0.05). In multivariate analyses, cN1, >5 pN1, and posttreatment radioactive iodine (RAI)-avid metastatic foci of intermediate risk remained the independent factors predictive of RFS (all P < 0.05). The combination of any three or more of these intermediate-risk factors appeared to increase the posttreatment recurrence rate. CONCLUSION: Clinical nodal positivity, the number of positive LNs, and the presence of RAI-avid metastatic foci in the ATA intermediate-risk category might independently decrease RFS in patients with intermediate-risk PTC.