Tumor vascularity predicts recurrence in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
New prognosticators are necessary for optimizing the extent of thyroidectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.


METHODS
Tumor microvessel density (MVD), expression of thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) and CD68 stained macrophages were evaluated in 71 differentiated thyroid carcinomas by an immunohistochemical method.


RESULTS
The recurrence-free survival was significantly (P <0.05) shorter in patients with hypervascular tumors but was not related to the dThdPase expression. Significant (R = 0.323, P <0.001) correlation between dThdPase expression score and increment in MVD was documented. Frequent high MVD and dThdPase expression were encountered in tumors >3 cm. Twenty-two of the 27 (82%) patients expressing high dThdPase were also evaluated positive for CD68 (P <0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Tumor MVD might be a new prognostic indicator of differentiated thyroid carcinoma, whereas dThdpase expression with high MVD might serve to identify a subgroup of thyroid carcinoma patients as potential candidates for adjuvant radiotherapy.
Dhar
D K
DK
Second Departmen Surgery, Shimane Medical University, Izumo, Japan.
Kubota
H
H
Kotoh
T
T
Tabara
H
H
Watanabe
R
R
Tachibana
M
M
Kohno
H
H
Nagasue
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000145:classification*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase