Local control in differentiated thyroid carcinoma with extrathyroidal invasion

BACKGROUND: The clinical significance of microscopically locoresional-resid ual differentiated thyroid carcinoma is still an unsolved problem. METHODS: Patients who underwent resectional management for advanced differe ntiated thyroid carcinoma were divided into complete (n = 58), microscopic (n = 37), macroscopic (n = 14), and distant (n = 22) groups. RESULTS: Postoperative recurrence was similar in the complete (28%) and mic roscopic (22%) groups and was significantly lower than that of the macrosco pic (57%) and distant (67%) groups. Age, gender, lymph node metastasis, and the residual status (complete and microscopic versus macroscopic and dista nt) were independent risk factors for recurrence. Postoperative survival of the complete and microscopic groups groups was better than that of the mac roscopic and distant groups. Age and the residual status were independent p rognostic factors for overall and cause-specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative recurrence and survival of patients with microsc opic residual cancer were similar to those of patients with complete resect ion, and macroscopic residual cancer either in locoregional or distant loci was an ominous prognostic sign. Am J Surg. 2000; 179:86-91. (C) 2000 by Ex cerpta Medica, Inc.