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We hypothesize that the prevalence of FTC during the last decade in our center in Greece was very low due to correction of iodine deficiency and a relative increase in the prevalence of microPTC. More than 50% of PTC diagnosed during the last decade were microPTCs that were detected incidentally in older persons with preexisting MNG or a prominent hot nodule. This is one of the highest, if not the highest percentage of microPTCs that were incidentally detected. Despite many of these having features of invasiveness, most appear to remain clinically silent. Research is needed to identify factors predisposing microPTCs to evolve from a subclinical to a clinically apparent form.

Objective: Recently, small medullary thyroid carcinomas (smallMTCs; %1.5 cm) are frequently diagnosed, occasionally as incidental findings in surgical specimens. Their clinical course varies. We examined tumour size as a predictor of clinical behaviour. Design: A retrospective study. Methods: A total of 128 smallMTC patients (35.2% males and 45% familial) were followed up for 0.9-30.9 years. According to tumour size (cm), patients were classified into four groups: group 1, 0.1-0.5 (nZ33); group 2, 0.6-0.8 (nZ33); group 3, 0.8-1.0 (nZ29) and group 4, 1.1-1.5 (nZ33). Results: Pre-and post-operative calcitonin levels were positively associated with the tumour size (P!0.001). Capsular and lymph node invasion were more frequent in groups 3 and 4 (P!0.03); the stage was more advanced and the outcome was less favourable with an increasing tumour size (P!0.001). Groups 1 and 2 patients were more frequently cured (group 1, 87.8%; group 2, 72.7%; group 3, 68.9%; and group 4, 48.5%; PZ0.002). The 10-year probability of lack of disease progression according to the tumour size differed between patients with tumour sizes of 0.1-1.0 and 1.1-1.5 cm (96.6%, 81.3%, x 2 Z4.03, PZ0.045 for log-rank test). Post-operative calcitonin was the only predictor significantly associated with the 10-year progression of disease. Post-operative calcitonin levels R4.65 pg/ml predicted disease persistence (sensitivity 93.8% and specificity 90%) and R14.5 pg/ml predicted disease progression (sensitivity 100%, specificity 82%, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis). Conclusions: Tumour size may be of clinical importance only in patients with MTCs O1 cm in size. Post-operative calcitonin is a more important predictor than size for disease progression.

Objective: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) has varying clinical course. We assessed trends in MTC presentation during the last 34 years. Design: Retrospective study. Methods: One hundred and fifty one patients (44.4% males) were followed for 0.9-34 years.

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