Background: Familial papillary thyroid carcinoma (familial PTC) is well known to present with aggressiveness; however, the characteristics and the prognostic outcomes of familial papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (familial micro-PTC) are not well established. The overall aim of this study was to analyze the clinicopathological outcomes of familial micro-PTC.
Methods: Between 1996 and 2006, 2071 patients underwent thyroid surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma. The clinicopathological outcomes for familial PTC and sporadic PTC were compared, and familial micro-PTC data were sub-analyzed.
Results: There were significant differences in multifocality, bilaterality, extent of surgery, and recurrence between familial PTC and sporadic PTC (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the number of affected family members in the familial PTC group. In patients with familial micro-PTC, less aggressiveness was noted in multifocality, extrathyroidal invasion, tumor stage at time of initial surgery, central lymph node metastasis, and recurrence than in those with familial PTC tumors>1 cm in diameter (p<0.05). The multivariate analysis including recurrence showed no significant difference between familial micro-PTC patients and sporadic micro-PTC patients.
Conclusion: When familial PTC was compared with sporadic PTC, our results support the recommendation for more invasive familial PTC surgery. However, familial micro-PTC outcomes differed from familial PTC tumors>1.0 cm in diameter. It was similar to sporadic micro-PTC, illustrating that familial micro-PTC is less aggressive and that a less invasive surgical treatment could be considered.