Microscopic positive margins in papillary thyroid cancer do not impact disease recurrence

Abstract

Despite a strong association between microscopic positive margins and other adverse prognostic factors in PTC, there is no independent association with disease recurrence on multivariate analysis. Microscopic positive margins are rare (1.1%) in the absence of other indications for RAI.

Re: Microscopic positive margins in papillary thyroid cancer do not impact disease recurrence

“…They note significant differences in baseline characteristics between patients with clear margins and those with microscopic positive margins. 1 The strong association of positive margins with other adverse features is not unexpected and consistent with the literature. 2 We performed a multivariate analysis to elucidate the independent impact of microscopic positive margins whilst adjusting for these potential confounding factors and found no independent association with disease recurrence.…”

“…We read with interest the article by Abraham et al 1 Enrolling 610 patients undergoing surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) from 1987 to 2016 at Liverpool Hospital, this retrospective study investigated the association between microscopic positive margins in PTC and disease recurrence, and concluded that microscopic positive margins in PTC do not impact disease recurrence. Herein, we would like to raise the following comments.…”

Re: Microscopic positive margins in papillary thyroid cancer do not impact disease recurrence

“…They note significant differences in baseline characteristics between patients with clear margins and those with microscopic positive margins. 1 The strong association of positive margins with other adverse features is not unexpected and consistent with the literature. 2 We performed a multivariate analysis to elucidate the independent impact of microscopic positive margins whilst adjusting for these potential confounding factors and found no independent association with disease recurrence.…”

“…We read with interest the article by Abraham et al 1 Enrolling 610 patients undergoing surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) from 1987 to 2016 at Liverpool Hospital, this retrospective study investigated the association between microscopic positive margins in PTC and disease recurrence, and concluded that microscopic positive margins in PTC do not impact disease recurrence. Herein, we would like to raise the following comments.…”

“Micro” Extrathyroidal Extension in Risk Stratification for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Should It Be in the Intermediate-Risk or High-Risk Group? A Single-Center Retrospective Study

“……”

Clinical Outcomes of T4a Papillary Thyroid Cancer With Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Involvement: A Retrospective Analysis

“…Several studies on microscopic positive tumour margins have reported that there is no association with recurrence. [14][15][16] Recently, Abraham et al 17,18 reported that microscopic positive tumour margins did not affect disease-free survival in the majority of patients with PTC, but was associated with a four-fold increased risk of recurrence in T4a patients. This supports the results of our study, which was conducted among T4a patients with RLN involvement.…”

Re: Microscopic positive margins in papillary thyroid cancer do not impact disease recurrence

“…They note significant differences in baseline characteristics between patients with clear margins and those with microscopic positive margins. 1 The strong association of positive margins with other adverse features is not unexpected and consistent with the literature. 2 We performed a multivariate analysis to elucidate the independent impact of microscopic positive margins whilst adjusting for these potential confounding factors and found no independent association with disease recurrence.…”

“…We read with interest the article by Abraham et al 1 Enrolling 610 patients undergoing surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) from 1987 to 2016 at Liverpool Hospital, this retrospective study investigated the association between microscopic positive margins in PTC and disease recurrence, and concluded that microscopic positive margins in PTC do not impact disease recurrence. Herein, we would like to raise the following comments.…”

“Micro” Extrathyroidal Extension in Risk Stratification for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Should It Be in the Intermediate-Risk or High-Risk Group? A Single-Center Retrospective Study

“……”

Clinical Outcomes of T4a Papillary Thyroid Cancer With Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Involvement: A Retrospective Analysis

“…Several studies on microscopic positive tumour margins have reported that there is no association with recurrence. [14][15][16] Recently, Abraham et al 17,18 reported that microscopic positive tumour margins did not affect disease-free survival in the majority of patients with PTC, but was associated with a four-fold increased risk of recurrence in T4a patients. This supports the results of our study, which was conducted among T4a patients with RLN involvement.…”

Re: Microscopic positive margins in papillary thyroid cancer do not impact disease recurrence

“…They note significant differences in baseline characteristics between patients with clear margins and those with microscopic positive margins. 1 The strong association of positive margins with other adverse features is not unexpected and consistent with the literature. 2 We performed a multivariate analysis to elucidate the independent impact of microscopic positive margins whilst adjusting for these potential confounding factors and found no independent association with disease recurrence.…”

“…We read with interest the article by Abraham et al 1 Enrolling 610 patients undergoing surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) from 1987 to 2016 at Liverpool Hospital, this retrospective study investigated the association between microscopic positive margins in PTC and disease recurrence, and concluded that microscopic positive margins in PTC do not impact disease recurrence. Herein, we would like to raise the following comments.…”

“Micro” Extrathyroidal Extension in Risk Stratification for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Should It Be in the Intermediate-Risk or High-Risk Group? A Single-Center Retrospective Study

“……”

Clinical Outcomes of T4a Papillary Thyroid Cancer With Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Involvement: A Retrospective Analysis

“…Several studies on microscopic positive tumour margins have reported that there is no association with recurrence. [14][15][16] Recently, Abraham et al 17,18 reported that microscopic positive tumour margins did not affect disease-free survival in the majority of patients with PTC, but was associated with a four-fold increased risk of recurrence in T4a patients. This supports the results of our study, which was conducted among T4a patients with RLN involvement.…”