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9725360 
Journal Article 
Prognostic parameters for recurrence of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma 
Kim, TY; Hong, SJ; Kim, JM; Kim, WG; Gong, G; Ryu, JS; Kim, WB; Yun, SC; Shong, YK 
2008 
Yes 
BMC Cancer
ISSN: 1471-2407
EISSN: 14712407 
8 
296 
English 
18851763 
BACKGROUND: Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is defined as a papillary thyroid carcinoma less than or equal to 1.0 cm in size. Independent prognostic factors for clinical recurrence of PTMC have not been clearly delineated.

METHODS: Clinicopathological parameters predicting PTMC recurrence were determined by retrospective analysis of 307 patients.

RESULTS: Of the 293 patients eligible for analysis, 14 (5%) had recurrence during a median follow-up time of 65 months. Recurrence was observed in 8 of 166 patients (0.5%) treated with total or near-total thyroidectomy; gender (P = 0.02) and presence of lateral cervical node metastases at initial surgery (P = 0.01) were associated with recurrence. Six of the 127 patients (0.5%) treated with hemi- or subtotal thyroidectomy experience recurrences, but no significant prognostic factor for recurrence was identified. Multivariate Cox-regression analysis showed that gender and cervical lymph node metastasis were significant variables

CONCLUSION: PTMC showed very diverse disease extent and could not be regarded as indolent, relatively benign disease based on the primary tumor size. The extent of surgery should be based on prognostic parameters, such as gender and lateral neck node metastasis, in patients with PTMC.