Prognostic factors to predict the efficacy of surgical interventions against brain metastasis secondary to thyroid cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Brain metastasis in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is rare (frequency 3) (P = 0.039). Only the subgroup with the number of brain metastases ≤3 showed statistical significance in the subgroup analysis of survival benefit following craniotomy (P = 0.048). Conclusions: The number of brain metastases and the existence of lung metastasis were regarded more essential than other clinical factors in patients with DTC in this study. Furthermore, craniotomies indicated a survival benefit only when the number of brain metastases was ≤3. This finding could be beneficial in determining surgical indications in thyroid cancer with brain metastasis.

Keywords

• differentiated thyroid carcinoma
• brain metastasis
• craniotomy
• prognosis
• surgical indication