[Clinical value, diagnosis and treatment of thyroid differentiated microcarcinoma]

Results of surgical treatment of 240 patients with thyroid differentiated microcarcinoma (less 1 cm in diameter) are analyzed. Papillary and follicular tumor was diagnosed at 212 (88.3%) and 28 (11.7%) respectively. Microcarcinoma had no clinical symptoms in majority cases. In some cases microcarcinoma had aggressive clinical course: at 10.8% patients the tumor was extended beyond the bounds of thyroid capsule (T3), at 2.1% patients the primary symptoms of disease were metastases into cervical nodes. Long-term results of surgical treatment were followed-up until 25 years after surgery, 5-year survival rate and recurrence-free period were 99.5 and 99% respectively. Recurrence of tumor occurred at 2 (0.8%) patients with initial III and IVA stages of disease despite previous radical operation, one of them died in 4 years after surgery. Microcarcinoma is regarded as early stage of thyroid gland cancer. Ultrasonic examination and fine-needle biopsy permit to diagnose timely this malignant tumor.