title: [Current TNM system of the UICC/AJCC : the prognostic significance for differentiated thyroid carcinoma].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of study was an evaluation of prognostic factors of the current TNM version (UICC/AJCC 2009, 7th revision) for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 368 patients with DTC (papillary thyroid carcinoma [PTC] n = 269, follicular thyroid carcinoma [FTC] n = 99) were included. Disease-specific survival (DSS) was calculated based on the different TNM stages (mean follow-up 60 ± 37.5 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared to patients with FTC, PTC patients had smaller tumors (diameter 19 mm versus 33 mm), more often lymph node metastases (40.9% versus 9.1%) but less frequent distant metastases (2.6 versus 13.1%) and poorly differentiated variants (PDTC 3.0% versus 8.1%). The 5-year and 10-year DSS for PTC versus FTC were 97.3% versus 91.5% and 96.2% versus 91.5% (p = 0.086), respectively. When comparing different TNM categories between well-differentiated PTC and FTC, no statistically significant differences were found but PDTCs, had a significantly worse DSS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current TNM system is a sufficient tool for predicting DSS in well-differentiated PTC. In FTC, the extent of capsular and vascular invasion should also be considered. The implementation of a specific TNM system for PDTC needs to be confirmed in further studies.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Gefäßchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Halle, Halle, Deutschland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stratmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sekulla
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dralle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brauckhoff
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D047368:Tumor Burden