Contralateral papillary thyroid cancer: does size matter?
BACKGROUND
The optimal extent of thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) <1 cm is controversial. Our aim was to identify the rate and factors predictive of contralateral PTC in these patients.


METHODS
We examined 228 patients with PTC who underwent either completion or total thyroidectomy and analyzed the predictive value of tumor size, histology, margin status, capsular invasion, extrathyroid extension, multifocality, and node metastases.


RESULTS
We observed no differences in the rate of contralateral disease in patients with primary PTC > or =1 cm compared with those having disease <1 cm, 30% versus 24%, respectively (P = .43). Multifocality was the only factor predictive of contralateral PTC in patients with tumors <1 cm (P = .02). Patients with tumors <.5 cm also had a comparable rate of contralateral disease (27%).


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of contralateral PTC appears to be unrelated to the size of the primary tumor. Furthermore, in patients with PTC <1 cm, multifocality is a risk factor for PTC in the contralateral lobe.
Pitt
Susan C
SC
Section of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA. pitt@surgery.wisc.edu
Sippel
Rebecca S
RS
Chen
Herbert
H
D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012307:Risk Factors; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D055815:Young Adult