Tumor size and presence of metastases in differentiated thyroid cancer: comparing cohorts from two countries
Authors' conclusion
The presence of lymph node and distant metastases is significantly higher in pT1 DTC cases in the Dutch compared to the German cohort, which might be caused by differences in the indication for and application of diagnostic procedures eventually leading to DTC diagnosis. Our results implicate that one should be cautious when extrapolating results and guidelines from 1 country to another.
Study context
- Population
- Adult differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients from a Dutch and a German university hospital; 80% papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), 20% follicular thyroid cancer (FTC)
- Participants
- 1,771 patients
- Exposure
- Dutch vs German DTC cohort
- Outcome
- Presence of lymph node metastases by tumor size (PTC) and distant metastases (DTC, PTC and FTC separately)
Methodological detailstwo university hospitals (Dutch and German)
- Two university hospitals (Dutch and German)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Lymph node metastases in PTC ≤ 1 cm
P < 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Distant metastases in DTC ≤ 2 cm · significantly more frequent in Dutch
P = 0.004
Overall metastases in all DTC
- Lymph node metastases
- 24%
- Distant metastases
- 8%
Original publication
Tumor size and presence of metastases in differentiated thyroid cancer: comparing cohorts from two countries. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 14 June 2023. doi:10.
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