ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the pathogenistic, clinical and pathologic characteristics and treatment in elder patients with thyroid carcinoma(TC). Methods The clinical and pathologic manifestation, the treatment and prognosis of forty elder patients with thyroid carcinoma were analysed. Results The incidence of TC in elder patients was 14.2% in all of the thyroid carcinomas in the same period. The clinical course was longer and the neoplasm was bigger. A majority of the pathology was follicular adenocarcinoma(35%), followed by adenocarcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma and pipallary adenocarcinoma. Surgerical management was the primary therapy. 17 cases underwent redical thyroidectomy with neck dissection, 13 total thyroidectomy or subtotal thyroidectomy, 4 palliative resection. Isotopic or radiotherapy as an adjuvant therapy was done if necessary. Five year survival rat was 52.0%, mortality was 45.0% in follow up period. Conclusions The main causes of the poorer prognosis of elder patients with thyroid carcinoma are follows: ① the malignant degree of the tumor is higher; ② the reaction for the tumor in elder patients is duller. So it is important to pay attention to elder patients with thyroid nodule, and an operation should be done as quick as possible.