title: Papillary thyroid carcinoma: prognostic significance of cancer presentation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the clinical presentation of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has prognostic significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective evaluation was carried out of sequential, primary presentation, >1 cm diameter, PTC cases treated at a single center. PTC cases were grouped into 3 groups: (1) incidental detection by imaging, (2) incidental detection by physical examination, and (3) detection because of complaints related to a thyroid mass. The MACIS (metastasis, age, completeness of resection, invasion, and size) system was used to determine cancer prognosis for each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 168 PTC cases, 28 patients (17%) were in group 1, 60 patients (36%) were in group 2, and 80 patients (47%) were in group 3. Overall, 53% of differentiated thyroid cancers were detected incidentally. The difference in the proportion of patients in each MACIS score groups among the 3 clinical presentation categories, and for each component of the MACIS score, was not statistically significant (P = .36).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The manner in which PTC initially clinically presents has no relationship with cancer prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, St Paul's Hospital & University of British Columbia, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Heywood
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Michael Smith Genome Sciences Center, British Columbia Cancer Research Center, 100-570 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Katayoon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kasaian
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St Paul's Hospital & University of British Columbia, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6Z 1Y6.
authors.forename: Adrienne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melck
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St Paul's Hospital & University of British Columbia, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6Z 1Y6.
authors.forename: Kaye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia and Michael Smith Genome Sciences Center, British Columbia Cancer Research Center, 100-570 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Steven J M
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, St Paul's Hospital & University of British Columbia, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St Paul's Hospital & University of British Columbia, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6Z 1Y6. Electronic address: smwiseman@providencehealth.bc.ca.
authors.forename: Sam M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wiseman
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: Cancer presentation; Cancer prognosticator; Papillary thyroid carcinoma