Relation between clinical presentation and prognosis of patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We aimed to analyze patients with papillary thyroid micro-carcinoma (PTM) in order to establish the prognosis according to the differences observed between those diagnosed before surgery and those diagnosed postoperatively. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Retrospective study of 83 PTM patients who were distributed in 2 groups. Clinical, histological and follow-up data were compared. Survival and disease-free interval (DFI) were analyzed in both groups. RESULTS: Group A (diagnosed before surgery): 30 patients (36.1%); group B (diagnosed postoperatively): 53 patients (63.9%). Five group A patients had a relapse. Overall survival was 98.8% and overall DFI was 94% (83.3% in group A and 100% in group B, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: It is useful to differentiate patients with PTM diagnosed before surgery from those whose PTM was diagnosed after since their evolution is different.