Operative strategy in follicular thyroid cancer
Journal
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Journal Volume
101
Journal Issue
12
Pages
820-825
Date Issued
2002
Author(s)
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Surgery is the main treatment for most thyroid cancers. However, the indications for subtotal or radical thyroidectomy in cases of follicular thyroid cancer remain controversial. This study examined the indications for subtotal thyroidectomy or radical total thyroidectomy in patients with follicular cancer. Methods: A total of 196 cases of follicular cancer diagnosed among 1,545 thyroid cancer cases between 1960 and 2000 at National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) were included in this study. Diagnosis of follicular cancer was based on the findings of pathologic examination. All surgeries were performed in the Department of Surgery at NTUH. The average period of postoperative follow-up was 11.7 years. Subtotal thyroidectomy was defined as thyroid resection performed on not more than two-thirds of the whole lobe. Radical thyroidectomy was defined as total removal of the thyroid plus cervical lymph node removal if surgical examination revealed malignancy. Local recurrence was defined as tumor reappearance in soft tissue in the neck or cervical lymph node after initial treatment. Distal metastasis was also surveyed from medical records. Patients were classified into three groups according to the size of the surgical specimen as less than 3 cm in diameter, 3 to 5 cm, and more than 5 cm. Results: Between 1960 and 2000, the percentage of follicular cancer patients undergoing follicular cancer surgery decreased from 22.0 to 7.7%, while papillary cancer surgery increased from 65.5 to 87.1%. This change was associated with the addition of iodine to table salt island-wide from 1967. The change in percentage of surgically treated cases was greater between 1991 and 2000. Subtotal thyroidectomy was performed in 56 cases and radical thyroidectomy was performed in 140 cases during the study period. None of the 63 cases with a tumor diameter of less than 3 cm undergoing either radical or subtotal thyroidectomy had local recurrence during a mean follow-up of 11.7 years. However, six of those cases (9.5%) had distant metastasis. Conclusions: For follicular cancers of less than 3 cm in diameter, subtotal thyroidectomy instead of radical thyroidectomy may be considered, but close follow-up is necessary.
Subjects
Follicular cancer; Local recurrence; Metastasis; Thyroidectomy
SDGs
Other Subjects
iodine; sodium chloride; adult; aged; article; cancer classification; cancer patient; cancer recurrence; cancer surgery; cervical lymph node; clinical examination; clinical study; controlled study; diet supplementation; diet therapy; female; follow up; histopathology; human; lymph node metastasis; lymphadenectomy; major clinical study; male; medical record; postoperative period; soft tissue metastasis; subtotal thyroidectomy; surgical technique; surgical ward; Taiwan; thyroid follicular carcinoma; thyroid papillary carcinoma; thyroidectomy; treatment indication; tumor volume; university hospital; Adenocarcinoma, Follicular; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Thyroid Neoplasms; Thyroidectomy
Type
journal article