Clinical and pathological profile with prognostic insights in 9504 thyroid cancer cases: a single-center study...

Thyroid cancer incidence is rising worldwide, yet comprehensive longitudinal data linking contemporary demographic, pathological, and surgical trends to recurrence risk remain scarce.

A retrospective analysis was performed on 9504 thyroid cancer patients from 2008 to 2023. Based on the year of treatment, patients were categorized into 3 groups for comparative assessment. Demographic features, clinical pathological characteristics, surgical approaches, and prognostic outcomes were evaluated.

Over the 16-year period, the annual number of new thyroid cancer cases demonstrated a consistent upward trend, with a growing proportion detected through routine health screenings. The male-to-female ratio was 1:2.76, with a gradual increase in male patients. The peak age at diagnosis remained between 30 and 60 years, while the proportion of juvenile patients declined steadily. Papillary thyroid carcinoma constituted the predominant histologic type. Surgical management shifted toward more conservative approaches. Although tumor size decreased over time, the incidence of multifocal lesions and the BRAF V600E mutation rate rose. Lymph node metastasis rates also increased, particularly in patients with central region metastases and metastases in ≤5 lymph nodes. Multivariate analysis identified age, tumor size, and number of metastatic lymph nodes as independent risk factors for recurrence in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Patients older than 55 years, those with larger lesions, or those with more lymph node metastases exhibited a significantly elevated recurrence risk.

Although thyroid cancers are being detected at earlier stages and smaller sizes, the burdens of molecular, multifocal, and lymph node disease are increasing. Age, tumor size, and nodal metastatic load constitute robust independent predictors of recurrence in papillary thyroid carcinoma, informing risk-adapted surveillance and surgical strategies.