PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN WELL-DIFFERENTIATED THYROID CARCINOMAS

Although well differentiated thyroid carcinoma is usually associated w ith a favorable outcome, a small percentage of patients die from their cancer. In order to determine the risks for a specific patient, vario us prognostic scores have been established. The more famous are AMES, AGES, the score designed by the EORTC classification and an other by W HO based on TNM classification. From these studies, two clinical crite ria have the best prognostic value: age at the time of diagnosis and s tage of the disease. Other factors, less effective in predicting the p rognosis are the degree of histological differentiation of the tumor, sex of the patient and nodal status.