Comparison of the Classical and Follicular Variants of Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas in Terms of the Clinicopathological Prognostic Parameters

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the differences between the classical and follicular variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma (CVPTC and FVPTC) in terms of the clinicopathological prognostic parameters. Material and Method: The study included 84 cases consisting of 37 CVPTC and 47 FVPTC. Patient age, gender and pathological prognostic parameters including multifocality, tumour size, tumour capsule, extrathyroidal extension, intratumoural and non-tumoural lymphocytic infiltration, tumoural stage, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis were recorded for each case by using the pathology reports. Two variants were statistically compared in terms of these parameters. Results: FVPTC cases were older than CVPTC cases (p= 0.016). There was no difference in terms of gender. Although the median tumour size was similar in two groups, the tumours over 4 cm were significantly more common in FVPTC (p= 0.044). Encapsulation was significantly higher in the FVPTC (p= 0.010). Multifocality and extrathyroidal extension were more frequent in CVPTC but these results were not statistically significant. Nontumoural lymphocytic infiltration was significantly higher in CVPTC (p= 0.027), but there was no difference in terms of intratumoural lymphocytic infiltration. CVPTC and FVPTC were similar for the tumour stage and the lymph node metastasis. We had only one case with distant metastases and it was FVPTC. Conclusion: Two PTC variants appear to exhibit some different prognostic features from each other and this may require different management of them. However, more studies with larger series are needed for this decision.