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"Occult" papillary carcinoma of the thyroid: a questionable entity
B Salvadori1, R Del Bo, S Pilotti
1Division of Surgical Oncology C, National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy.
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Occult papillary thyroid cancer, defined by small tumor size (<1.5 cm), shows similar outcomes to larger papillary cancers. This study questions classifying these small tumors as a distinct entity, suggesting they share prognostic factors.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Surgical Oncology
- Thyroid Cancer Research
Background:
- Occult papillary thyroid cancer is defined by small tumor size (<1.5 cm).
- These small tumors are often discovered incidentally.
- Understanding their distinct behavior is crucial for treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the clinical and prognostic factors of occult papillary thyroid cancer.
- To evaluate treatment outcomes for these small tumors.
- To determine if occult papillary tumors warrant classification as a separate entity.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 72 patients with occult papillary thyroid cancer.
- Surgical treatments included lobectomy, isthmusectomy, and total thyroidectomy.
- Nodal neck dissection, radiometabolic therapy, and hormone (T4) therapy were administered as indicated.
Main Results:
- All patients remained disease-free at a median follow-up of 99 months (range 60-189), with one death from unrelated causes.
- No thyroid relapses occurred in conservatively treated patients.
- Two patients undergoing radical surgery developed nodal metastasis requiring neck dissection.
Conclusions:
- Occult papillary thyroid cancer shares morphological, clinical, and prognostic factors with larger papillary cancers, differing primarily in size.
- The study questions the clinical utility of considering occult papillary tumors as a distinct entity.
- Treatment outcomes suggest that size alone may not necessitate separate classification.