Classification of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma according to size and fine-needle aspiration cytology: Behavior and therapeutic implications.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to assess and classify cases of papillary microcarcinoma according to size (up to 0.5 cm and between 0.6 and 1.0 cm) and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). These results were then correlated with clinical and histopathologic factors of worse prognosis.


METHODS
A total of 448 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma were studied retrospectively.


RESULTS
Of the 448 patients, 173 presented with carcinomas of ≤0.5 cm and 275 patients presented with carcinomas sized between 0.6 and 1.0 cm (>0.5 cm). Lymph node metastasis was diagnosed in 6% of the carcinoma cases of ≤0.5 cm and in 16% of the cases with tumors of >0.5 cm. A total of 281 cases tested positive for papillary carcinoma by FNAC, and in 113 cases, the carcinoma was diagnosed during the histopathologic examination. A positive FNAC for carcinoma was correlated with a higher incidence of lymph node metastasis (16% vs 5%).


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis of papillary carcinoma using the preoperative biopsy enables a more precise oncological procedure with greater chance of biological cure.
Friguglietti
Celso Ubirajara Moretto
CU
Head and Neck Surgery Service, Hospital Ipiranga, São Paulo, Brazil.
Dutenhefner
Simone Elisa
SE
Brandão
Lenine Garcia
LG
Kulcsar
Marco Aurélio Vamondes
MA
D000367:Age Factors; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013965:Thyroidectomy
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D013954:Thyroglobulin