Significant prognostic factors in differentiated thyroid carcinoma: a literature review of single factor and multivariate analysis studies

ABSTRACT

The surgical management of differentiated thyroid carcinoma remains controversial and comparisons of the efficiency of various methods of treatment depend on analysis of retrospective studies. The majority of these relate prognosis to various clinical and pathological factors. The conclusions however differ when single or multivariate analysis is used to predict the most discriminative factors. Single factor analysis has regarded age as a major discriminant. When, however, all factors are considered- with multifactorial analysis -age alone loses its prognostic importance. In general the presence of distant metastases and/or infiltration of the primary lesion through the thyroid capsule are considered the two most adverse prognostic features in differentiated thyroid carcinoma and in their absence the outcome of treatment in patients with early and localized intraglandular lesions is favourable at all ages