Comparison Between Familial and Sporadic Non-medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Retrospective Individual Risk Factor-Matched Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to compare clinicopathologic features and outcomes between patients with familial non-medullary thyroid carcinoma (FNMTC) and patients with sporadic non-medullary thyroid carcinoma (SNMTC) after performing individual risk factor-matching. Additionally, the study evaluated a dynamic risk stratification (DRS) system to validate its usefulness for familial-type thyroid carcinoma.

METHODS

After individual risk factor-matching, 286 patients remained in the FNMTC group, and 858 patients were assigned to the SNMTC group consisting of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The prognostic outcomes were compared between the two groups in a matched cohort.

RESULTS

During the mean follow-up period of 142 months, recurrences were experienced by 64 patients in the sporadic group (7.5%) and 29 patients in the familial group (10.1%). In the multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors for recurrence were primary tumor size (p = 0.033), gross extrathyroidal extension (p = 0.001), and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.001). The independent risk factors did not include family history alone (p = 1.101) or the number of affected family members (p = 0.122 for 2 members and p = 0.625 for ≥ 3 members). In this matched-cohort study, the DRS system was well adjusted in the FNMTC and SNMTC groups. Moreover, the proportion of DRS categories and the recurrence rate in each DRS category were similar between the familial and sporadic groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Family history did not present a statistically significant association with a poor prognosis for PTC patients. With a family history of PTC alone, less aggressive treatment could be considered. In this matched cohort, DRS was adjusted well and could be useful in predicting prognosis, even for PTC patients with a family history of PTC.