title: [Relation between clinical presentation and prognosis of patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to analyze patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTM) in order to establish the prognosis according to the differences observed between those diagnosed before surgery and those diagnosed postoperatively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of 83 PTM patients who were distributed in 2 groups. Clinical, histological and follow-up data were compared. Survival and disease-free interval (DFI) were analyzed in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group A (diagnosed before surgery): 30 patients (36.1%); group B (diagnosed postoperatively): 53 patients (63.9%). Five group A patients had a relapse. Overall survival was 98.8% and overall DFI was 94% (83.3% in group A and 100% in group B, p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is useful to differentiate patients with PTM diagnosed before surgery from those whose PTM was diagnosed after since their evolution is different.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General y Aparato Digestivo I. Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca. Murcia. España.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Torregrosa
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balsalobre
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ríos
authors.forename: Pascual
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parrilla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome