title: [Clinico-pathological study of microcarcinoma of the thyroid].
abstract: We have analysed the results of surgical treatment for microcarcinoma of the thyroid (MCT). In sixteen patient clinical and follow-up data were retrospectively evaluated during a 35.1-month follow-up. Thyroid hyperfunctional state us was present in two subjects. A single nodule was detected by echotomography in 11 patients, while multinodular diffuse goitre was revealed in 3 patients. In the last two subjects, thyroid gland appeared completely normal at ultrasonography, despite laterocervical lymph node metastases. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed in 6 patients and its diagnostic accuracy was high (83,3%). MCT was classified as "incidental" in 12 patients and "occult" in the remaining 4 patients. Eight subjects underwent total thyroidectomy and 8 hemithyroidectomy plus isthmectomy. No postoperative complications were recorded. In 10 patients MCT histotype was papillar adenocarcinoma, in 5 was follicular adenocarcinoma and in the remaining case it was medullary carcinoma. Goitre was associated in 75% of the cases. Only in a patient disease progressed to death because of hematogenous metastases. In conclusion, we believe that incidental MCT is a low-grade malignancy with a benign biological behaviour. Occult MCT is a potentially lethal disease. We did not observe differences in the long-term results between different surgical treatments of MCT.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chirurgia, Università di Roma Tor Vergata.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Barone Adesi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arturi
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Stolfi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Savio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Majo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Uccioli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gentileschi
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors