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Clinical and Histological Characteristics of Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: Results of a Retrospective Study in 243 Patients

Institute of Endocrinology (E.R.), University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; Section of Endocrinology (R.R., G.T., F.B., M.R.A., E.C.d.U.), Department of Biochemical Sciences and Advanced Therapies, University of Ferrara, 44100 Ferrara, Italy; Radiotherapy Department (L.B.), Malpighi Hospital, 40100 Bologna, Italy; and Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition (E.N.P., L.E.B.), Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Elizabeth N. Pearce, M.D., M.Sc., Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Boston Medical Center, 88 East Newton Street, Evans 201, Boston, Massachusetts 02118. E-mail: elizabeth.pearce{at}bmc.org.

Context: The recognition of thyroid microcarcinoma has increased due to the widespread use of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe histological and clinical characteristics of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) less than or equal to 1 cm.

Design: This study was a retrospective cohort.

Setting: This study was conducted at a university hospital endocrine clinic.

Patients: Over a 9-yr period, 243 consecutive patients with PTMC were studied.

Results: PTMC was an incidental finding at surgery in 21.4% of the PTMC cases. There were no differences in the clinical characteristics between those with incidental PTMC and those with suspected thyroid carcinoma. None of the patients with a cancer less than 8 mm had distant metastases, whereas distant metastases were observed in patients with cancers 8 mm (P 0.05). Disease-related mortality was not observed.

Conclusions: PTMC is prevalent in the population. Among patients with PTMC, tumor size more than 8 mm is associated with more aggressive disease.

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