Prognostic factors in differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

High cure rates are achieved after initial treatment of patients who develop differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and long-term out come is usually favorable. However, some patients are at high risk of recurrence and even of death. These patients can be identified at the time of diagnosis by using well-established prognostic factors. The extents of primary operation on thyroid gland and regional lymph nodes, radioiodine ablation, as well as other treatment features still remain controversial. The most appropriate initial treatment can be applied and follow-up can be finely tailored. Prognostic factors for DTC are defined as specific features of patients (age, gender), tumors (histology, extent, aneuploidy), and treatment. During the past two decades the great efforts were made to establish the optimal prognostic scoring system that should include the most important prognostic factors for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). The article reviews the chronology of prognostic scoring systems with their main characteristics in a goal to make easier the decision of adequate initial treatment modalities based on risk groups of patients with DTC.

Keywords

• thyroid neoplasms
• prognosis