title: Prognostic factors and follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma with false negative or nondiagnostic FNAC before surgery. Comparison with a control group.
abstract: Since the clinical implementation of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) to diagnose thyroid carcinoma, few patients remain misdiagnosed and little is known about their clinical outcomes. An observational retrospective study was carried out to analyse prognostic factors and follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) not disclosed by FNAC before surgery, compared to a control group. From October 2003 to July 2010, 308 patients underwent surgery as treatment for nodular goitre and 53 had DTC. Cases were 12 subjects with DTC and benign (n = 7) or nondiagnostic (n = 5) FNAC. Controls were 39 subjects with DTC and suspicious (n = 19) or malignant (n = 20) FNAC. Prognostic factors, recurrence and survival rates were compared. Cases had longer time from FNAC to surgery than the control group (86.8 ± 74.1 vs. 16.4 ± 23.8 weeks; P < 0.001), higher prevalence of follicular carcinoma (33.3 vs. 2.6%; P = 0.009), and of two-time total thyroidectomy (75 vs. 30.8%; P = 0.016). Average follow-up was 42.7 ± 25.3 months (2-86 months). There were no deaths. Disease-free survival for cases was 66.9 ± 5.8 months, and for controls 78.7 ± 3.9 months (P: ns). In patients with DTC, the result of the FNAC performed before surgery was not an independent predictor of recurrences or mortality in the first 7 years of follow-up. Thus, false negative or nondiagnostic FNAC in a patient with DTC does not seem to be a primary prognostic factor, but it may reveal other adverse prognostic factors such as longer time to therapy and higher prevalence of follicular carcinoma that may influence long-term outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Service, Hospital Universitari Mútua de Terrassa, Plaza Dr. Robert, 5, 08221, Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain. 23566LGP@comb.cat
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: García-Pascual
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balsells
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabbi
authors.forename: Carlos Del
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Pozo
authors.forename: María-Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Valverde
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casalots
authors.forename: José-Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: González-González
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Veloso
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anglada-Barceló
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006042:Goiter / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult