Background: Whether differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) occurring concomitantly with Graves’ disease (GD) is more aggressive and bound to a less favorable outcome is controversial. Objective: Aim of this multicenter retrospective study was to compare baseline features and outcome of DTC patients with GD (DTC/GD+) or without GD (DTC/GD−). Patients: Enrolled in this study were 579 patients referred to five endocrine units (Cagliari, Pavia, Pisa, Siena, and Varese) between 2005 and 2014: 193 patients had DTC/GD+ , 386 DTC/GD−. Patients were matched for age, gender and tumor size. They underwent surgery because of malignancy, large goiter size, or relapse of hyperthyroidism in GD. Results: Baseline DTC features (histology, lymph node metastases, extrathyroidal extension) did not differ in the two groups, except for multifocality which was significantly more frequent in DTC/GD+ (27.5% vs. 7.5%, p < 0.0001). At the end of follow-up (median 7.5 years), 86% of DTC/GD+ and 89.6% DTC/GD− patients were free of disease. Patients with persistent or recurrent disease (PRD) had “biochemical disease” in the majority of cases. Microcarcinomas were more frequent in the DTC/GD+ group (60% vs. 37%, p < 0.0001) and had an excellent outcome, with no difference in PRD between groups. However, in carcinomas ≥ 1 cm, PRD was significantly more common in DTC/GD+ (24.4% vs. 11.5%; p = 0.005). In the whole group, univariate and multivariate analyses showed that GD+ , lymph node involvement, extrathyroidal invasion, multifocality and tall cell histotype were associated with a worse outcome. Female gender and microcarcinomas were favorable features. No association was found between baseline TSH-receptor antibody levels and outcome. Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) seemed to be associated with a better outcome of DTC, possibly because patients with GO may early undergo surgery for hyperthyroidism. Conclusions: GD may be associated with a worse outcome of coexisting DTC only if cancer is ≥ 1 cm, whereas clinical outcome of microcarcinomas is not related to the presence/absence of GD.

Features and outcome of differentiated thyroid carcinoma associated with Graves’ disease: results of a large, retrospective, multicenter study

Campopiano M. C.;Elisei R.;Vitti P.;
2020-01-01

Abstract

Background: Whether differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) occurring concomitantly with Graves’ disease (GD) is more aggressive and bound to a less favorable outcome is controversial. Objective: Aim of this multicenter retrospective study was to compare baseline features and outcome of DTC patients with GD (DTC/GD+) or without GD (DTC/GD−). Patients: Enrolled in this study were 579 patients referred to five endocrine units (Cagliari, Pavia, Pisa, Siena, and Varese) between 2005 and 2014: 193 patients had DTC/GD+ , 386 DTC/GD−. Patients were matched for age, gender and tumor size. They underwent surgery because of malignancy, large goiter size, or relapse of hyperthyroidism in GD. Results: Baseline DTC features (histology, lymph node metastases, extrathyroidal extension) did not differ in the two groups, except for multifocality which was significantly more frequent in DTC/GD+ (27.5% vs. 7.5%, p < 0.0001). At the end of follow-up (median 7.5 years), 86% of DTC/GD+ and 89.6% DTC/GD− patients were free of disease. Patients with persistent or recurrent disease (PRD) had “biochemical disease” in the majority of cases. Microcarcinomas were more frequent in the DTC/GD+ group (60% vs. 37%, p < 0.0001) and had an excellent outcome, with no difference in PRD between groups. However, in carcinomas ≥ 1 cm, PRD was significantly more common in DTC/GD+ (24.4% vs. 11.5%; p = 0.005). In the whole group, univariate and multivariate analyses showed that GD+ , lymph node involvement, extrathyroidal invasion, multifocality and tall cell histotype were associated with a worse outcome. Female gender and microcarcinomas were favorable features. No association was found between baseline TSH-receptor antibody levels and outcome. Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) seemed to be associated with a better outcome of DTC, possibly because patients with GO may early undergo surgery for hyperthyroidism. Conclusions: GD may be associated with a worse outcome of coexisting DTC only if cancer is ≥ 1 cm, whereas clinical outcome of microcarcinomas is not related to the presence/absence of GD.
2020
Premoli, P.; Tanda, M. L.; Piantanida, E.; Veronesi, G.; Gallo, D.; Masiello, E.; Rosetti, S.; Cusini, C.; Boi, F.; Bulla, J.; Rodia, R.; Mariotti, S.; Capelli, V.; Rotondi, M.; Magri, F.; Chiovato, L.; Rocchi, R.; Campopiano, M. C.; Elisei, R.; Vitti, P.; Barbato, F.; Pilli, T.; Castagna, M. G.; Pacini, F.; Bartalena, L.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/1031643
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