Analysis of Clinicopathologic Features in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Patients Younger than Thirty

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study analyzed clinicopathologic features in patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma, who were younger than thirty, compared with patients aged thirty and forty-five. METHODS: The clinical records of 337 patients who underwent thyroidectomy because of papillary thyroid carcinoma were reviewed. Among them, 62 patients who were younger than thirty were placed in group I. And 275 patients between thirty and forty-five were placed in to group II. Clinicopathologic features between the two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between two groups in age, gender, tumor extension, and multifocality. Symptoms before detection of papillary thyroid carcinoma such as palpable mass, compressive symptoms or hoarseness were significantly higher in group I (P=0.008). In tumor size, rate of microcarcinoma is significantly higher in group II (P=0.024). Lymph node metastasis was found to be more significant in group I (P=0.010). The operative methods were different between the two groups. Rate of total thyroidectomy was increased in group I (P=0.021). CONCLUSION: This study shows that patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma, younger than thirty have more clinical symptoms and more large sized masses, more lymph node metastases at the time of surgery compared with those aged between thirty and forty-five.