title: Results of Surgical Therapy in Patients with Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma.
abstract: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare form of malignancy, having an intermediate prognosis. Controversies exist regarding the best surgical approach. The aim of the study was to analyze the outcome in a group of patients with MTC, diagnosed and followed up in a single care center. We performed a retrospective analysis of all the patients diagnosed with MTC in the Department of Endocrinology from the County Emergency Hospital Timisoara between 1992 and 2012. The study group included 19 patients, 6 men (31.6 %), mean age 41.2 ± 12.5 years (20-72 years). The preoperative diagnosis was based on the protocol for nodular thyroid disease. Total or near-total thyroidectomy was performed in 10 out of 16 patients who could be operated. Postoperative follow-up included repeated measurements of serum calcitonin and imaging investigations. Nine out of the total of 19 (47.3 %) patients had hereditary forms of MTC. Most of the cases (84.2 %) were submitted to surgery. The median duration of follow-up was 84 months. The pTNM staging indicated that the majority of the patients with hereditary MTC were diagnosed in an earlier stage. Disease remission was achieved in 7 cases (43.8 %). Four patients, all with sporadic forms, died. Survival rates at 1, 5 and 10 years were significantly higher (p = 0.048) in patients with hereditary MTC. An early diagnosis of MTC allows a better surgical approach and an improved survival rate. We support the general recommendation that modified radical neck dissection is not necessary for all the patients with MTC.
authors: Department of Endocrinology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Piata Eftimie Murgu nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors: Mihaela
authors: M
authors: Vlad
authors: Department of Endocrinology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Piata Eftimie Murgu nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors: Ioana
authors: I
authors: Zosin
authors: Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Piata Eftimie Murgu nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors: Bogdan
authors: B
authors: Timar
authors: The Second Surgery Department, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Piata Eftimie Murgu nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors: Fulger
authors: F
authors: Lazar
authors: Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Piata Eftimie Murgu nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors: Adrian
authors: 0000-0002-1824-2628
authors: A
authors: Vlad
authors: Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Piata Eftimie Murgu nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors: Romulus
authors: R
authors: Timar
authors: Department of Pathology, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Piata Eftimie Murgu nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
authors: Marioara
authors: M
authors: Cornianu
keywords: Medullary thyroid carcinoma; Modified radical neck dissection; Multiple endocrine neoplasia; Prognosis; Total thyroidectomy