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Scattered psammomatous calcifications around papillary thyroid carcinoma
Yong Sang Lee1, Soon Won Hong, Hang-Seok Chang
1Thyroid Cancer Center, Departments of Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 211 Eonjuro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-720, Korea, medilys@yuhs.ac.
World Journal of Surgery
|February 6, 2014
Summary
Scattered psammomatous calcifications around papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are associated with younger patients and more aggressive tumor features, including infiltrative margins and lymph node metastasis. Further research is needed to confirm their prognostic significance.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Psammomatous calcification is a known feature of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).
- The clinical significance of scattered psammomatous calcifications around PTC remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical significance of scattered psammomatous calcifications in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 546 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for PTC between January and July 2009 was analyzed.
- Patients were categorized into groups with and without scattered psammomatous calcifications.
- Clinical, preoperative diagnostic, and histopathologic features were compared between groups.
Main Results:
- Scattered psammomatous calcifications were identified in 38% of patients (n=209).
- These calcifications were more prevalent in younger patients and associated with infiltrative tumor margins, capsule invasion, and lymph node metastasis.
- No significant association was found with gender, tumor size, multiplicity, or lymphocytic thyroiditis.
Conclusions:
- Scattered psammomatous calcifications around PTC may indicate increased tumor aggressiveness.
- Larger-scale, long-term studies are required to validate the prognostic implications of these findings.
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