Clinical Analysis of Risk Factors Related to Recurrent Well Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Well differentiated thyroid carcinoma is the most common malignancy in thyroid gland. Most patients have an excellent prognosis. However, the recurrence of this disease carries a relatively high risk of tumor-related mortality. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze the factors that influence the development of well differentiated recurrent thyroid carcinoma. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From January 1999 to January 2008, 366 patients who were diagnosed and surgically treated for well differentiated thyroid carcinoma were chosen. Disease free interval was assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses according to each prognostic factor. Prognostic factors consisted of sex, age, extra-capsular spread (ECS), multifocality, lymph node metastasis status, and extent of surgery. RESULTS: ECS and central, lateral LN involvement were significant risk factors for recurrence (p< 0.01). However, size of tumor, age, sex did not reveal any significance (p=0.20, p=0.73, p=0.60). In addition, multifocality, TNM staging showed borderline values (p=0.12, p=0.07). CONCLUSION: Extra-capsular spread and lymph node metastasis revealed high potential for recurrence of well differentiated thyroid carcinoma.