Abstract
Introduction Patients with thyroid cancer in different age groups present with different prognosis.
Objective The objective of this study is to analyze the clinicopathological pattern of thyroid
carcinoma presentation according to age groups.
Methods This is a retrospective study. From 2000 to 2010, 623 patients underwent thyroidectomy
for cancer in our institution, with 596 enrolled. Patients were divided into groups
of 10 years and then in four age subgroups (≤ 24, 25–44, 45–64, and ≥65 years) for
statistical analysis. We compared age, gender, and histopathological characteristics
between groups.
Results Individuals belonging to the earlier age group presented with a highest prevalence
of neuro-vascular invasion, capsular invasion and lymph node metastasis. Together
with individuals of advanced age, that group also had larger tumor diameter and higher
prevalence of extra-glandular disease. Even when analyzed only cases with well-differentiated
carcinoma, younger individuals remain with a highest prevalence of lymph node metastasis,
neuro-vascular invasion and larger tumor diameter.
Conclusion We observed a distinct pattern of clinicopathological manifestation of thyroid cancer
according to age. Individuals belonging to age extremes resemble in several pathological
features, and young people usually present with more aggressive disease characteristics.
Keywords
papillary carcinoma - thyroid neoplasms - age
