Tall cell papillary thyroid cancer: incidence and prognosis.
BACKGROUND
The tall cell variant (TCV) of papillary thyroid cancer is reported to have a poor prognosis. This study examines the incidence and end result of surgical treatment of TCV.


METHODS
In this study, 240 thyroid cancers treated over a 23-year period at two hospital centers are reviewed. A total of 153 patients with papillary cancer were available for follow-up. All microscopic slides were re-examined.


RESULTS
Of the total 183 papillary cancers, 19 (10.4%) were TCV. The remainder were usual papillary or other papillary cancer variants. Patient age, tumor size, lymph node and soft-tissue involvement, recurrence, and death rates were evaluated. Multivariate statistical analysis disclosed that TCV histology, as well as age and tumor size, were significant predictors of recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite a high rate of recurrence in TCV cases over age 50 (6/9), there were no recurrent TCVs in cases under age 50 (0/8). Pathologists and surgeons must develop an increased awareness of this entity and implications for more radical treatment in the older age group.
Terry
J H
JH
Department of Surgery, Brooklyn Hospital Center, New York, New York 10012.
St John
S A
SA
Karkowski
F J
FJ
Suarez
J R
JR
Yassa
N H
NH
Platica
C D
CD
Marti
J R
JR
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*