Abstract
Objective
We aim to present papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) incidence at a university teaching hospital, to compare characteristics of PMC in relation to size, and to assess for significant difference in PMC incidence among patients with non-PMC thyroid malignancies.
Materials and Methods
Pathology results were reviewed for consecutive total thyroidectomies between 2002 and 2007 (n = 860). Statistical significance was calculated using χ2 or, when unavailable, Fisher exact test.
Results
PMC was found in 429 cases, which is 49.9 percent of all total thyroidectomies. In PMC ≥5 mm, 25.1 percent had extrathyroidal extension vs 9.1 percent for <5 mm (P < 0.001). When 4 mm is used as a threshold, P value was 300–fold smaller. Incidence in patients with any non-PMC thyroid malignancy was 51.6 percent against 47.2 percent in all other patients (P = 0.203).
Conclusions
In this study, PMC was found in 49.9 percent of patients, which, to our knowledge, is higher than any other reported incidence. A threshold of ≥4 mm was more significant than 5 mm for carrying increased risk for extrathyroidal spread. There was no significant difference in PMC incidence in patients with malignant vs benign disease.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.