title: Papillary thyroid cancer: pathological parameters as prognostic factors in different classes of age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze aspects of a series of papillary thyroid carcinomas and evaluate the prognostic features specific to different age classes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2000 to 2005, 2709 patients underwent a total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma in our department. Patients were divided into three groups: <18 years (G1), 19 to 45 years (G2), and >46 years (G3). Histologic and clinical features were statistically evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tumor size was larger in G1 when compared with both G2 and G3 (P < 0.0001). Infiltration of the thyroid capsule and node metastases were higher in G1 than both G2 and G3 (P < 0.0001). The Tall-cell variant was more represented in G2 and G3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the pediatric population, papillary carcinoma is a more aggressive disease. Because pediatric cancers have a better prognosis than their adult counterparts, this does not influence patient outcome. Age can then be considered the most important factor in determining prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miccoli
authors.forename: Michele N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Minuto
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ugolini
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Panicucci
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massi
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berti
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Basolo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome