Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2012 Mar;55(3):166-172. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2012.55.3.166.

The Treatment Outcomes of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma

• Choi YJ
• Kang DH
• Hong JC
• Lee HS
• Kim SW
• Lee KD

• KMID: 2277336
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2012.55.3.166

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) by retrospective data analysis.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
We conducted a retrospective chart review of 17 cases of pathologically proven MTC patients who were treated from 1998 to 2010 at the department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kosin University College of Medicine.
RESULTS
The mean tumor size was 2.32 cm (0.5-3.4 cm). Seventy-one percent of patients were diagnosed with advanced stage (III or IV) of MTC. We performed RET genetic screening in 8 of 17 patients. Hereditary MTC was found in 3 of 17 patients (18%) and sporadic MTC was found in 14 of 17 (82%). The preoperative assessment of basal serum calcitonin (CT) level was performed in 15 of 17 patents. Eleven patients had elevated basal calcitonin levels (>13 pg/mL). After the operation for MTC, the serum CT levels were elevated in 7 patients. Overall 5-year survival rate was 94%. Normalization of serum calcitonin level was accomplished more frequently in the absence of extra thyroidal invasion (p=0.034), multifocal tumor (p=0.02).
CONCLUSION
The initial treatment of MTC is total thyroidectomy with central compartment neck dissection with or without lateral neck dissection. To detect recurrence or metastasis, regular checking of serum calcitonin is necessary. A better knowledge of prognostic factors could improve the management of MTC patients.

Keyword

Medullary thyroid carcinoma; Treatment

MeSH Terms

Calcitonin
Genetic Testing
Humans
Neck
Neck Dissection
Neoplasm Metastasis
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Survival Rate
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Neoplasms
Thyroidectomy
Calcitonin