title: Predictive factors of carcinoma in 279 patients with Hürthle cell neoplasm of the thyroid gland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Estimation of the risk of malignancy in a Hürthle cell (HC) neoplasm is important for optimum extent of thyroid surgical treatment. The aim of this retrospective study was to find predictive factors of carcinoma in patients with HC neoplasm.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 279 patients (241 females, 38 males; median age 55 years, range 15-86 years) with HC neoplasm in whom carcinoma was only suspected and who were surgically treated at our Institute in the period 1990-2007, were included in this study. Risk factors for malignancy were identified by the chi-squared test and logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The histopatological diagnoses were carcinoma, benign goiter and adenoma in 71 (25%), 68 (25%) and 140 (50%) patients, respectively. Predictive factors for carcinoma, shown by chi-square test, were: age of patients, tumor diameter, thyroid volume and T(g) concentration. The independent predictors of malignancy as shown by multivariate logistic regression were age of patients and pre-operative T(g) concentration. Carcinoma was more common in the patients older than 65 years of age and with T(g) concentration over 1,000 ng/ml.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The independent predictors of malignancy in HC neoplasm were age of patients and pre-operative T(g) concentration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Institute of Oncology, Zaloska, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strazisar
authors.forename: Rok
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Petric
authors.forename: Manja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sesek
authors.forename: Janez
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zgajnar
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hocevar
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Besic
mesh_terms: D018249:Adenoma, Oxyphilic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy