Differentiated thyroid cancer: outcome of treatment in 80 cases

The author carried out a retrospective analysis, with 6-13 years follow up, of 80 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. The patients were treated with surgery, radioactive iodine, radiation therapy and suppression hormone therapy. The results, 5 year and 12 year survivals of 97% and 85%, are comparable with the results of much larger series with longer periods of follow up. The most significant prognostic factor was age at presentation. No patient below the age of 45 died from the cancer even if, at presentation, there was very advanced local disease or multiple distant metastases. In addition, sex, extent of local disease and presence of multiple metastases were also important in predicting survival. Cervical node involvement, by itself, did not worsen the prognosis and long survival with lung secondaries is possible.