title: Well-differentiated thyroid cancer with aerodigestive tract invasion: Long-term control and functional outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) invading the aerodigestive tract is an uncommon entity associated with significant morbidity and reduced survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the surgical treatment, oncologic control, and functional outcomes of 69 consecutive patients with WDTC invading the upper aerodigestive tract.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete tumor excision with negative margins was achieved in 62% of patients. Tracheostomy dependence (27%) and permanent hypoparathyroidism (49%) were present or the result of surgery. Seventy-one percent of patients ate a regular diet, 59% had normal speech, and the majority (62%) reported normal activities of daily living. The local, regional, and distant recurrence was 1%, 14%, and 23%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was 71% and 45%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical resection and appropriate adjuvant treatment can achieve excellent locoregional control while preserving function and quality of life. Long-term survival is limited by the high incidence of distant metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Shirley Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, Levine Cancer Institute, Charlotte, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Zvonimir L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Milas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Elmhurst Hospital Center Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Elmhurst, New York.
authors.forename: Neel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Dianna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Gary L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Clayman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: esophageal invasion; functional outcomes; laryngeal invasion; thyroid cancer; tracheal invasion