Background. Personal experience on thyroid neoplasms in aged patients is reported in order to evaluate the incidence, prognosis and peculiarities compared to other ages. Methods. In the period 1973-1995, 33 patients (21 female, 12 male) aged 70 years or older with thyroid carcinoma [19 differentiated (8 papillary, 11 follicular), 14 anaplastic] were observed. At diagnosis, 9 patients presented a loco-regional illness and 13 distant metastases. Twenty-seven patients were submitted to total or subtotal thyroidectomy, 6 to diagnostic biopsy. In 4 functional neck dissection was associated. After thyroidectomy, patients with differentiated carcinoma were submitted to radioiodine therapy. Results. A patient died in the postoperative period. Actuarial overall survival was 31.51% at 5 years and 23.63% at 10 years. In patients with differentiated carcinoma, survival was 48.72% at 5 years and 36.54% at 10 years, in those with anaplastic carcinoma 19.05% at 3 years and 9.52% at 5 years. Conclusions. In conclusion, thyroid cancer in the elderly seems to be more aggressive for biological causes connected to the age and to the histotype but also for the considerable diagnostic delay. Treatment needs to be aggressive and total thyroidectomy is indicated because age does not represent an important factor of perioperative mortality.

Thyroid carcinoma in geriatric age. Experience in 33 cases

Calo P. G.;Nicolosi A.;Massidda B.;
1998-01-01

Abstract

Background. Personal experience on thyroid neoplasms in aged patients is reported in order to evaluate the incidence, prognosis and peculiarities compared to other ages. Methods. In the period 1973-1995, 33 patients (21 female, 12 male) aged 70 years or older with thyroid carcinoma [19 differentiated (8 papillary, 11 follicular), 14 anaplastic] were observed. At diagnosis, 9 patients presented a loco-regional illness and 13 distant metastases. Twenty-seven patients were submitted to total or subtotal thyroidectomy, 6 to diagnostic biopsy. In 4 functional neck dissection was associated. After thyroidectomy, patients with differentiated carcinoma were submitted to radioiodine therapy. Results. A patient died in the postoperative period. Actuarial overall survival was 31.51% at 5 years and 23.63% at 10 years. In patients with differentiated carcinoma, survival was 48.72% at 5 years and 36.54% at 10 years, in those with anaplastic carcinoma 19.05% at 3 years and 9.52% at 5 years. Conclusions. In conclusion, thyroid cancer in the elderly seems to be more aggressive for biological causes connected to the age and to the histotype but also for the considerable diagnostic delay. Treatment needs to be aggressive and total thyroidectomy is indicated because age does not represent an important factor of perioperative mortality.
1998
Aged
Prognosis
Thyroid neoplasms
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11584/292761
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