title: Thyroid cancer epidemiology and prognostic variables.
abstract: Thyroid cancer comprises a broad spectrum of diseases with variable prognoses. Although most patients with this disease have excellent overall survival, there are some who do not fare so well. With the worldwide increase in incidence, the need to identify which tumours pose the greatest risk to patients is more acute than ever. This paper will discuss this rising trend in incidence with an analysis of the possible reasons for the increase. In addition, the paper will explore the factors that portend a worse prognosis for the individual patient. Finally, the limitations of the current staging systems will be discussed, with particular emphasis on why they are not as informative in the management of patients with thyroid cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocriniology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. Jennifer.sipos@osumc.edu
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sipos
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Mazzaferri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult