2015 Volume 144 Pages 92
Objective: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is generally well-recognized as having a good prognosis. However, there are some cases in which the tumor becomes life-threatening for the patient. The aim of this study was to detect high-risk factors in PTC patients.
Patients and Methods: The study included 225 patients (mean age 57.0±14.6 years, 45 men and 180 women, mean follow-up 12.3±4.8 years) who underwent surgical treatment at Osaka Red Cross Hospital between 1991 and 2005. TNM classification and staging were based on the UICC 7th classification. Sixty-three patients were classified as T1–2, 121 as T3, and 41 as T4. One hundred six patients were classified as N0, 57 as N1a, and 62 as N1b. A total of 220 patients were classified as M0 and 5 patients as M1. Seventy-two patients were classified as stage I–II, 77 as stage III, and 76 as stage IV. Overall survival and disease-specific survival rates were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and were compared using the log-rank test.
Results: Eighteen patients died from PTC. The overall 10-year survival rate was 88.6%, and the 15-year survival rate was 74.4%. The disease-specific 10-year survival rate was 95.7%, and the 15-year survival rate was 91.3%. Univariate analysis revealed age (≧50), T4, N1b, M1 and stage IV were significant risk factors. T4, N1b and M1 were significant risk factors, based on the multivariate analysis.
Conclusion: PTC generally had a good prognosis. Age (≧50), T4, N1b, and/or M1 at diagnosis showed a clearly lower disease-specific survival. Multivariate analysis revealed T4, N1b and M1 were significant risk factors.
