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Updated: Apr 12, 2026
Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Visualization in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Thyroid Cancer
Published on: June 9, 2023
Papillary thyroid carcinoma: prognostic significance of cancer presentation
Heywood Choi1, Katayoon Kasaian2, Adrienne Melck3
1Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, St Paul's Hospital & University of British Columbia, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Background:
The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the clinical presentation of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has prognostic significance.
Methods:
Retrospective evaluation was carried out of sequential, primary presentation, >1 cm diameter, PTC cases treated at a single center. PTC cases were grouped into 3 groups: (1) incidental detection by imaging, (2) incidental detection by physical examination, and (3) detection because of complaints related to a thyroid mass. The MACIS (metastasis, age, completeness of resection, invasion, and size) system was used to determine cancer prognosis for each group.
Results:
Of the 168 PTC cases, 28 patients (17%) were in group 1, 60 patients (36%) were in group 2, and 80 patients (47%) were in group 3. Overall, 53% of differentiated thyroid cancers were detected incidentally. The difference in the proportion of patients in each MACIS score groups among the 3 clinical presentation categories, and for each component of the MACIS score, was not statistically significant (P = .36).
Conclusion:
The manner in which PTC initially clinically presents has no relationship with cancer prognosis.
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