MALIGNOMAS OF THYROID-GLAND - TREATMENT-RESULTS IN 305 PATIENTS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 152  (2) , 114-125
Abstract
Between 1960 and 1972, 305 patients with malignomas of the thyroid gland were surgically treated, irradiated (megavoltage therapy and/or 131I) and treated with thyroid hormone. Differentiated adenocarcinomas (34.4%) of all the patients) were observed more frequently in women and younger patients, whereas dedifferentiated carcinomas (33.8%) were found relatively more often in men and in an advanced age. Only in 12% of the cases was the tumor discovered at an early stage; an early diagnosis is rare. In almost 2/3 of the patients metastases occurred. Of these, 11% were manifest later than 5 yr following the therapy. Distant metastases from differentiated adenocarcinomas accumulated 131I in 60%, those from undifferentiated carcinomas accumulated 131I in 20%. Treatment results were influenced decisively by histology, tumor spread, age and sex; women less than 40 yr old with differentiated adenocarcinomas and a circumscribed extension of the tumor had the best prognosis. More prognostic importance is attached to extension of the primary tumor than to the presence of metastases to regionary lymph nodes. Patients with metastases accumulating 131I have a better chance of survival than those whose metastases do not accumulate it. It was possible to improve the results 2 or 3-fold compared to a previously treated groups of patients.

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