Objectives: Tall cell variant (TCV) papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is a subtype of PTC associated with aggressive tumor behavior, advanced stage, and higher rates of recurrence and mortality. The present study aimed to test an established dynamic risk stratification tool in the TCV population, with the goal of better predicting the postoperative course of these patients.
Study design: Retrospective chart review.
Methods: A total of 94 patients with TCV who underwent total thyroidectomy with radioactive iodine ablation were retrospectively reviewed from 1998 through 2020. Biochemical, structural, and overall response to treatment was determined for each patient, based on postoperative thyroglobulin levels and imaging findings. Primary outcomes were locoregional and distant recurrence, presence of disease at final follow-up, need for additional intervention, and disease-specific mortality.
Results: Patients with TCV who were stratified as having an excellent overall response to treatment had lower rates of locoregional recurrence than indeterminate, biochemical incomplete, and structural incomplete responses (2.0%, 33.3%, 55.0%, and 85.7% at 5 years respectively, p < 0.001). The same was true for distant recurrence as well (2.0%, 9.0%, 35.1%, and 42.9%, p < 0.001). An excellent response was also associated with lower rates of presence of disease at final follow-up, need for additional intervention, and disease-specific mortality.
Conclusions: Although TCV is an aggressive subtype associated with worse clinical outcomes than classical PTC, patients with an excellent overall response to treatment have significantly improved outcomes when compared to indeterminate, biochemical incomplete, and structural incomplete responses.
Level of evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 133:2430-2438, 2023.
Keywords: papillary thyroid cancer; risk stratification; tall cell variant.
© 2023 The Authors. The Laryngoscope published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.