Open AccessPapillary Microcarcinoma
Author(s) -
Noguchi Shiro,
Yamashita Hiroto,
Uchino Shinya,
Watanabe Shin
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
world journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.115
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1432-2323
pISSN - 0364-2313
DOI - 10.1007/s00268-007-9453-0
Subject(s) - medicine , vascular surgery , incidence (geometry) , cardiothoracic surgery , papillary carcinoma , radiology , abdominal surgery , cancer , ultrasound , cardiac surgery , surgery , thyroid , thyroid carcinoma , physics , optics
Background Papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) is increasing in incidence because of diagnosis by ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration cytology. Methods Between January 1966 and December 1995, we treated 6019 patients with papillary cancer; among them, 2070 patients with PMC were studied. Results PMC is essentially very similar to papillary cancer that is 11 mm or larger and has a very good prognosis. Smaller tumors and younger patients have a better prognosis. Among PMC, larger tumors (6–10 mm) recur in 14% at 35 years compared with 3.3% in patients with smaller tumors. Patients older than 55 years have recurrence in 40% at 30 years, with a worse prognosis than younger patients who have a recurrence rate of less than 10%. Extracapsular invasion by the primary tumor also has a higher recurrence rate. The majority of recurrences are in the neck. Therefore, annual ultrasound of the neck is effective for recurrence surveillance. Conclusion Papillary microcarcinoma is similar to larger papillary carcinomas with tumor characteristics and age‐based recurrence rate that extends for many years, justifying long surveillance after surgery.