Abstract
Fourteen cases of recurrent thyroid carcinoma experienced at the department in a recent 13-year period were studied. Of the 14 cases 7 underwent the first operation at another hospital, and the remaining 7, at the department. Average age was 50.9±16.3 years. There were 4 males and 10 females. Histologically all cases had a papillary carcinoma. First operations in the 7 cases at another hospital included enucleation/partial thyroidectomy in 4, lobectomy in 2, and patial thyroidectomy with radical cervical dissection, leaving the remnant carcinoma, in one, where no standard procedure was seen. Average interval from the first operation to the recurrence was 11.2 years, and 2 cases were already reoperated. These recurrences were located in the remnant thyroid in 5, lymph nodes of the neck in 6, and mediastinal lymph node, trachea and esophagus in each one case. All cases undergoing enucleation/partial thyroidectomy experienced a recurrence in the remnant thyroid. All lobectomy cases had a recurrence in the lymph node. Another 7 cases at the department underwent biopsy with radiation in one, and radical operation in 6 as the first operation. Of 6 cases undergoing radical operation, 5 had a recurrence in the lymph node of the neck, and one did in the subcutaneous platysma. Average interval from the first operation to the recurrence was 1.6 years. There was a considerable number of cases in which reoperation could result in radical operation. The necessity of aggressive operation should be emphasized.
