Potential impact of obesity on the aggressiveness of low- to intermediate-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma: results from a MASTER cohort study

Abstract

Purpose: Obesity is associated with an increased risk of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Evidence of the impact of obesity on PTC aggressiveness is scarce. We aimed to evaluate the association between the body mass index (BMI) and the presence of aggressive features of low- to intermediate-risk PTC in a prospective cohort.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 1,032 patients with low- to intermediate-risk PTC who underwent lobectomy at 22 hospitals in Korea and divided into three groups according to BMI, as follows: normal/underweight ( < 23 kg/m²), overweight (23-24.9 kg/m²), and obese ( ≥ 25 kg/m²). Clinicopathological features of PTC at diagnosis were evaluated.

Results: Obese patients had a higher rate of macro-PTC ( > 1 cm) and greater incidence of extra-thyroidal extension (ETE), vascular invasion, and intermediate-risk tumors than those not classified as obese. Increased BMI was positively associated with the incidence of macro-PTC, ETE, vascular invasion, and intermediate-risk category. After adjusting for age, sex, pathological features, metabolic syndrome, thyroid function test, and smoking habits, obesity was a risk factor for ETE (odds ratio [OR] = 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-2.5, p = 0.005) and intermediate-risk PTC (OR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1-2.5, p = 0.011) in women. The association between obesity and ETE was significant regardless of whether or not women had metabolic syndrome. There was no significant association between obesity and aggressive PTC features in men.

Conclusion: BMI at the time of thyroid cancer diagnosis may affect the aggressiveness of low- to intermediate-risk PTC, especially in women.

Keywords: Aggressiveness; Body mass index; Metabolic syndrome; Obesity; Papillary thyroid carcinoma.