BACKGROUND: The tall cell Variant (TCV) of papillary thyroid cancer is
reported to have a poor prognosis. This study examines the incidence
and end result of surgical treatment of TCV. METHODS: In this study, 2
40 thyroid cancers treated over a 23-year period at two hospital cente
rs are reviewed. A total of 153 patients with papillary cancer were av
ailable for follow-up. Ah microscopic slides were re-examined. RESULTS
: Of the total 183 papillary cancers, 19 (10.4%) were TCV. The remaind
er were usual papillary or other papillary cancer variants. Patient ag
e, tumor size, lymph node and soft-tissue involvement, recurrence, and
death rates were evaluated. Multivariate statistical analysis disclos
ed that TCV histology, as well as age and tumor size, were significant
predictors of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Despite a high rate of recurren
ce in TCV cases over age 50 (6/9), there were no recurrent TCVs in cas
es under age 50 (0/8). Pathologists and surgeons must develop an incre
ased awarenenss of this entity and implications for more radical treat
ment in the older age group.