Objectives/hypothesis: In the present study we sought to define the outcome of patients with delay in diagnosis and treatment (>1 year) of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) due to initial benign cytology (IBC).
Study design: Retrospective medical record review and analysis of survival outcomes.
Methods: The records of 47 patients with delayed diagnosis of thyroid cancer were reviewed. In 38, surgery was performed for growing nodules and in nine due to malignant cytology during follow-up. Median time to delayed surgery was 52 months (range, 13-205 months). Multivariate analysis was performed to assess variables associated with outcome.
Results: Most patients (32/47) underwent total thyroidectomy, whereas 15/47 had hemithyroidectomy. With a median follow-up of 96 months (range, 12-184 months), the 5-year disease-free survival of these patients was 96%. Multivariate analysis showed that the outcome of these patients was not statistically different than that of patients (n = 162) who underwent immediate surgery for similar disease.
Conclusions: We show that patients with delayed diagnosis and treatment for WDTC due to IBC have excellent outcome.
Level of evidence: 4.
Keywords: Thyroid; delayed; fine-needle aspiration; observation; papillary; surgery.
© 2014 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.