Thyroid carcinoma: results from surgical treatment in 211 consecutive patients.
A retrospective study was undertaken of 211 patients who were operated on for thyroid carcinoma. The revised histological diagnoses were papillary (n = 167), follicular (n = 26), medullary (n = 9) and undifferentiated (n = 9). No patient was lost to follow up (mean 10 years). In 162 patients a palpable neck mass was the only clinical presentation of disease (76%). Fine needle aspiration cytology was increasingly used throughout the period. Total thyroidectomy was done in 167 (79%), hemi or subtotal thyroidectomy in 22 (10%), the remaining received palliative treatment. Accidental unilateral vocal cord paralysis occurred in 3 (1.4%). Total thyroidectomy was followed by permanent hypoparathyroidism in 19 (11%). The tumour recurred in 37 (19%), and 23 of the patients died thyroid cancer (11%). The disease specific mortality for patients with undifferentiated tumours was 77% compared with 8% for patients with differentiated tumours. In the latter group, death of cancer was correlated significantly with age, sex, tumour size, presence of regional metastases, and palliative treatment.
Salvesen
H
H
Department of Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
Njølstad
P R
PR
Akslen
L A
LA
Albrektsen
G
G
Viste
A
A
Søreide
O
O
Varhaug
J E
JE
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*