Current Understanding of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Abstract

The term thyroid neoplasm incorporates tumors that originate from follicular cells and those that arise from parafollicular cells (C cells). Differentiated thyroid cancer, which originates from follicular cells, includes papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), oncocytic cell carcinoma (Hürthle), poorly differentiated carcinoma, and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC). PTC tends to have an indolent clinical course with low morbidity and mortality. However, this entity has a broad range of biological and clinical behavior that can result in disease recurrence and death, depending on patient and tumor characteristics and the initial treatment approach. PTC is the most common form of well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) and based on the most recent statistics, accounts for approximately 89.4% of all thyroid malignancies. PTC appears as an irregular solid or cystic nodule in normal thyroid parenchyma. PTC has the propensity for lymphatic invasion, but it is less likely to have hematogenous spread. Around 11% of patients with PTC present with distant metastases outside the neck and mediastinum. This manuscript with review the current understanding of the epidemiology, pathology, molecular characteristics, prognostic factors, and dynamic risk stratification of PTC centered on an evidence-based and personalized approach.

Risk Stratification of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer at King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital Endocrinology Clinic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…Accounting for almost 89.4% of all thyroid malignancies, it represents the primary histology identified in patients exposed to radiation [4]. Current statistics indicate that almost 1.3% of males and females will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer at some point during their lifetime [4]. While occurrences of PTC are on the rise [5], the reason for this increase is unclear, though the figures may be attributable to improvements in the diagnosis and detection of the disease [6].…”

“…Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common form of well-differentiated thyroid cancer (TC) and the most prevalent type found in Saudi Arabia [ 3 ]. Accounting for almost 89.4% of all thyroid malignancies, it represents the primary histology identified in patients exposed to radiation [ 4 ]. Current statistics indicate that almost 1.3% of males and females will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer at some point during their lifetime [ 4 ].…”

“…Accounting for almost 89.4% of all thyroid malignancies, it represents the primary histology identified in patients exposed to radiation [ 4 ]. Current statistics indicate that almost 1.3% of males and females will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer at some point during their lifetime [ 4 ].…”

Incidental discovery of a Hodgkin lymphoma synchronous to a papillary thyroid carcinoma

“…Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) represents the most common type of thyroid cancer accounting for almost 89,4% of all thyroid carcinomas (TC). 1 It usually presents with a high rate of loco‐regional lymph node metastases. 2 …”

“…Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) represents the most common type of thyroid cancer accounting for almost 89,4% of all thyroid carcinomas (TC). 1 It usually presents with a high rate of loco-regional lymph node metastases. 2 Whereas, Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with an incidence estimated in Europe around 2,2-2,7 per 100,000 cases per year.…”