PAPILLARY THYROID-CARCINOMA IN MEXICAN PATIENTS - CLINICAL ASPECTS AND PROGNOSTIC FACTORS

The present study characterizes papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in a Mexican patient sample and evaluates potential prognostic factors for recurrence. Clinical records of 229 patients with PTC were analyzed. Surgical specimens were rereviewed and DNA ploidy determined. Cox logi stic regression was used to explore prognostic factors. Mean age +/- S D of the patients was 42 +/- 16 years, with a male/female ratio of 24: 205. A thyroid mass was the initial manifestation in 99%. Extrathyroid invasion occurred in 45% and nodal metastases in 38%. Mean size +/- S D of the tumors was 3 +/- 2 cm. By flow cytometry 88% of the tumors we re DNA euploid and 12% aneuploid. Complete tumor resection was achieve d in 83% with an operative mortality of 0.4%. Postoperative hormone su ppression was administered in 65% and remnant I-131 thyroid ablation i n 84%. The 10-year recurrence-free survival was 85%. In the group of p atients with tumors totally removed and without distant metastases, no ne of the 14 evaluated variables demonstrated statistical significance as an independent prognostic factor for recurrence. However, the grou p of patients in whom a combination of the following factors was prese nt-age greater than or equal to 40 years, tumor size greater than or e qual to 3 cm, local invasion, and lymph node metastases-showed a highe r incidence of tumor recurrence.