Recovery rate in differentiated thyroid cancer. Experiences of one of the Hungarian clinical centers

Abstract

The worldwide incidence of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) has markedly increased during the last few decades. According to the international guidelines, principles of DTC management are in transformation. The aim of our work was to evaluate patients' current likelihood of recovery. Data of 380 patients treated between 1/Jan/2005 and 1/May/2016 at the PTE KK Ist Department of Internal Medicine were retrospectively analyzed. Female/male ratio was 306/74. Median age at diagnosis was 46 years (13-86 years), while median follow-up time was 55 months (0-144 months). Response to therapy was evaluable in 337 patients. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS (version 22.0). Based on the prevalence of papillary (PTC) and follicular (FTC) carcinomas (79/21%), moderate iodine deficiency has to be considered in this region. PTC patients were significantly younger and were diagnosed in earlier tumor stage. The ratio of lymph node and distant metastases was 35%/4% in PTC and 15%/14% in FTC. Radioiodine treatment was performed in a total of 542 times. 264 patients with PTC were followed up. 59% of patients were tumor-free, in 20% uncertain response, in 7% incomplete biochemical response, in 14% incomplete structural response were diagnosed and 6 patients died. Patients with FTC (n = 73) were tumor-free in 59%, uncertain response was found in 10%, incomplete structural response was diagnosed in 31%, while 10% of the patients died. In summary, although DTC has a favorable prognosis, in 31% of FTC patients and in 14% of PTC patients, tumor-free status was not achieved. During the median 55-month follow-up period, the disease-specific mortality was 10% in FTC and 2% in PTC. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(22): 878-887.