Adverse aspects of small thyroid cancer and need for treatment

Adverse aspects of small thyroid cancer and need for treatment

Dr. Irving B. Rosen, MD *, Abbas Azadian, Paul G. Walfish, MD

Combined Endocrine Tumor Clinic, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

^*Correspondence to Irving B. Rosen, 600 University Avenue, Suite 478, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X5

Abstract

Background. Small, well-differentiated thyroid cancer (tumor <1.5>

Methods. A total of 382 thyroid cancer patients were reviewed. Of these, 99 patients had tumors that were < class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">extrathyroidal invasion, or metastatic disease were studied.

Results. Thirty-five patients (one-third of the <1.5 class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">thyroidectomy and neck dissection as well as orthopedic procedures for metastatic bone disease. Radioiodine ablation was used in 33 patients, external radiation in 5. Thirty-one patients are well without disease, 3 are alive with disease, 1 died of disease.

Conclusions. Small, well-differentiated thyroid cancer is infrequently aggressive, but it may be a source for metastatic morbidity and recurrence and can be viewed as potentially lethal. Need for treatment should not be ignored based solely on the size of the tumor. © 1995 Jons Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Journal Title:

Head & Neck Volume 17 Issue 5, Pages 373 - 376