Implication of minimal extrathyroidal extension as a prognostic factor in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

In patients with PTC, MEE does not impact RFS. Thus, appropriate surgical intervention and postoperative follow up are mandatory in PTC, regardless of its extent.

Prognostic values of clinical lymph node metastasis and macroscopic extrathyroid extension in papillary thyroid carcinoma [Review]

“…More recently, Verburg et al showed that patients ≥ 45 years with massive Ex had a reduced life expectancy [16]. Taken together, these eral studies were published showing the lack of prognostic value of minimal Ex for PTC or well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC, most of which were PTC) [6][7][8][9][10] (Table 1). In the TNM classification, tumors > 4 cm are classified as T3, and those with minimal Ex are also upgraded as T3 even though their sizes are ≤ 4 cm.…”

Characteristics and significance of minimal and maximal extrathyroidal extension in papillary thyroid carcinoma

“…Some studies have shown that microscopic ETE alone does not have a significant impact on oncologic outcomes [15,18,19], though in another study its significance was undetermined [16]. Other authors have reported that the 20-year overall survival rate with microscopic ETE did not differ from macroscopic ETE [2].…”

Inter-Observer Variation in the Pathologic Identification of Minimal Extrathyroidal Extension in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

“…While significant ETE remains an important factor in predicting prognosis, recurrence, and mortality in thyroid cancer cases, the impact of mETE on patient outcome is controversial. Several studies have found that mETE alone does not worsen survival rates in PTC (14,15). These findings raise the question of whether patients ought to be upstaged on the basis of mETE alone.…”