Clinical presentation and outcomes of medullary thyroid cancer in two European countries: impact of diagnostic strategies
Authors' conclusion
We compared for the first time two MTC cohorts from countries with different diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Our data contribute to highlighting an association between routine CT measurement and MTC presentation and outcome, while suggesting that caution should be exercised when interpreting the differences among countries in MTC prevalence and clinical features.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) from reference centres in Italy and the Netherlands
- Participants
- 165 patients
- Exposure
- Dutch vs Italian sporadic MTC cohorts
- Dutchn = 59
- Italiann = 106reference
- Outcome
- PFS and DSS
Methodological detailstwo-country comparison, reference centres
- Two-country comparison
- Reference centres
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Dutch vs Italian: P < 0.001
- Dutch vs Italian: P 0.01
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Disease presentation and CT | P < 0.001 |
- Disease presentation and calcitonin (CT): significantly higher CT preoperative and at last visit in Dutch cohort
Disease presentation and CT
- Dutch cohort presented with more advanced disease (higher TNM, AJCC staging)
- Dutch patients more frequently received second operations, radiotherapy and systemic treatments
Predictors of progression-free survival (PFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS)
- Tumour size, nodal involvement, distant metastases at diagnosis and progression during follow-up were independent strong predictors of shorter PFS and DSS
- Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models
Diagnosis via routine CT measurement
- Less aggressive presentation and more favourable outcome with diagnosis via routine CT measurement
Original publication
Clinical presentation and outcomes of medullary thyroid cancer in two European countries: impact of diagnostic strategies. Eur Thyroid J. Published 10 February 2026. doi:10.
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