Prognostic evaluation model for papillary thyroid cancer: a retrospective study of 660 cases

Yi-Ming Cao; Ting-Ting Zhang; Bao-Yuan Li; Ning Qu; Yong-Xue Zhu

doi:10.21037/gs-21-100

Prognostic evaluation model for papillary thyroid cancer: a retrospective study of 660 cases

Gland Surg. 2021 Jul;10(7):2170-2179. doi: 10.21037/gs-21-100.

Authors

Yi-Ming Cao^{1

2}, Ting-Ting Zhang^{1

2}, Bao-Yuan Li³, Ning Qu^{1

2}, Yong-Xue Zhu^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Head & Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
² Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
³ Department of thyroid, the Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China.

Abstract

Background: Prognostic evaluation model for papillary thyroid cancer is very important for guiding the personalized treatment and follow-up strategy. There are imperfections in the system existed, and there is no suitable prognostic model for Chinese population.

Methods: This study was based on the clinic and follow-up data of 660 patients received surgical treatments in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from 2000 to 2005. Cox univariate/multivariate analysis was used to explore the influence factors of prognosis, and nomogram model was performed to establish a prognostic prediction system.

Results: Totally, 660 patients for initial treatment were included in our analysis with a median follow-up of 113.5 months. Five-, 10- and 15-year disease-free survival rate was 95.5%, 90.2% and 89.2%. Five-, 10- and 15-year overall survival rate was 99.7%, 99.2% and 99.1%. Residual tumor was associated with overall survival [hazard ratio (HR) 20.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.3-187.6, P<0.05]. Age of onset (HR 2.00, 95% CI: 1.17-3.42, P<0.05) and the dimension of lymph nodes involved (0.2-3 cm: HR 3.67, 95% CI: 1.13-11.87, P<0.05; >3 cm: HR 5.20, 95% CI: 1.31-20.65, P<0.05) were independent influence factors of disease-free survival. The nomogram model for predicting prognosis of papillary thyroid cancer was established with a moderate predictive value (c-index 0.71, 95% CI: 0.57-0.84).

Conclusions: The prognosis of papillary thyroid cancer is very good after appropriate treatment. Age and the dimension of lymph nodes involved were independent influence factors of disease-free survival for papillary thyroid cancer. A prognostic prediction model for Chinese population was established with moderate predictive value. A study with larger samples and including more factors of prognosis is necessary to increase the predictive value of model.

Keywords: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC); prognostic factors; prognostic prediction model; retrospective study.