Long-Term Follow-Up After Complete Resection of Well-Differentiated Cancer Confined to the Thyroid Gland
Vorburger, Stephan ; Übersax, Lucia ; Schmid, Stefan ; Balli, Mariette ; Candinas, Daniel ; Seiler, Christian
In: Annals of Surgical Oncology, 2009, vol. 16, no. 10, p. 2862-2874
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- Background: Papillary or follicular thyroid carcinomas exhibit a relatively benign course. Hence, long-term follow-up studies with well-defined disease stages and treatment details are needed to evaluate treatment strategies. Methods: Patients who underwent complete resection of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) confined to the thyroid gland between 1972 and 1990 identified from a prospective database were assessed. Follow-up was performed by interview, review of patient charts, and analysis of the Death Registry. Primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Review of histology was performed and extent of thyroid resection, postoperative therapy, and recognized prognostic factors but not lymphadenectomy were evaluated. Results: Of 2,867 patients, 213 had complete resection of WDTC confined to the thyroid gland. Follow-up was completed in 166 patients with median age 54.2 (range, 20-85) years, and median follow-up of 27.2 (range, 15.6-34.5) years. The 10- and 20-year OS was 71 and 55%, respectively. DSS at 10 and 20years was 81 and 69%, respectively, and correlated with age, histology, tumor size, radio-iodide ablation (RIA), and external beam irradiation (EBR) treatment. No patient died of WDTC more than 18years after resection. Total or near-total thyroidectomy without lymphadenectomy was not superior to partial thyroidectomy. In multivariate analysis for DSS, age was the dominant factor, which correlated with histology. Conclusion: After a median follow-up of 27years, about one-third of patients died of WDTC. Age, histology and postoperative therapy but not extent of thyroid resection determined DSS