Open AccessRecurrence Factors and Characteristic Trends of Papillary Thyroid Cancer Over Three Decades
Author(s) -
Waralee Chatchomchuan,
Yotsapon Thewjitcharoen,
Krittadhee Karndumri,
Sriurai Porramatikul,
Sirinate Krittiyawong,
Ekgaluck Wanothayaroj,
Somboon Vongterapak,
Siriwan Butadej,
Veekij Veerasomboonsin,
Auchai Kanchanapituk,
Rajata Rajatanavin,
Thep Himathongkam
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of the endocrine society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.046
H-Index - 20
ISSN - 2472-1972
DOI - 10.1210/jendso/bvab048.1775
Subject(s) - medicine , papillary thyroid cancer , thyroid cancer , disease , thyroiditis , cancer , thyroid , survival rate , thyroid disease
Background: The prevalence of thyroid cancer is rising worldwide. Although thyroid cancer has a favorable prognosis, up to 20% of patients experienced recurrent disease at some point during follow-up. The present study aimed to examine the recurrent factors that determined the outcomes of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and the characteristic trends in Thai patients over the last 30 years in a single institute. Methods: We reviewed the clinical data of all patients with PTC who were treated between 1987 and 2019. Clinical characteristics, epidemic trends, factors associated with the persistent or recurrent disease, disease-specific survival rate and disease-free survival rate were analysed. Results: A total of 235 patients with PTC who were registered between 1987 and 2019 were reviewed. The mean age was 41.0 ± 14.3 years, with a mean follow-up of 113 months. Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) was consistently increased and accounted for 21.4% (50/235) of total cases. According to American Thyroid Association (ATA) risk stratification, high ATA risk was found 24% of all PTMCs in the last decade, and 16.7% of these patients experienced local recurrence during the follow-up period. Coexistence with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) was found in one-fifth of the patients with PTC and was correlated with a low recurrent rate (HR 0.21, p = 0.009). Factors associated with the persistent or recurrent of disease included age > 55 years and high ATA risk. The overall disease-free survival rate and disease-specific survival rate were 77.4% and 98.3%, respectively. Conclusions: The prognosis of PTC is generally considered favorable. However, more than one-third of patients with PTMC demonstrated more aggressive clinical behavior, particularly in the last decade of the study. Coexistence with HT might contribute to a better prognosis in cases of PTC.