title: Preoperative prediction of papillary thyroid carcinoma prognosis with the assistance of computerized morphometry of cytology samples obtained by fine-needle aspiration: preliminary report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between cytologic features, clinical features, and recurrence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). We hoped to predict prognosis preoperatively.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively studied cytologic features by using computerized morphometry and clinical data of 118 patients with usual-type PTC without initial metastasis, including 34 patients with cancer recurrence in 10 years after surgery and 84 patients who did not have recurrence for more than 10 years after surgery. Another 24 patients were recruited for validation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate logistic analysis indicated that nucleus-to-cell ratio, variation of nuclear area, tumor size, and patient age were significantly related to recurrence. Cox regression analysis showed that hazard ratios were 3.34, 1.53, 1.77, and 2.6, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytologic features of PTC analyzed with computerized morphometry significantly correlated with recurrence. It helped to predict prognosis preoperatively and may be helpful for planning further treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. srshih@ntu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Shyang-Rong
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Yi-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Hung-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jau-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Liau
authors.forename: Chia-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chung-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tien-Chun
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult