Prognostic value of tumor size and minimal extrathyroidal extension in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Abstract Background Tumour size and extrathyroidal extension (ETE) may impact papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) outcomes. We therefore examined the prognostic value of tumour size and ETE for predicting posttreatment recurrence in PTC patients. Methods A total of 2,902 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for previously untreated T1–T3 PTC (7th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer) at our tertiary referral center were included. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to determine significant factors predictive of posttreatment recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results In univariate analysis, tumour factors (including tumour size, multifocality, ETE, and lymphovascular invasion), nodal factors (including positive lymph node number, lymph node ratio, and extranodal extension), and MACIS (metastases, age, completeness of resection, invasion, and size) scores were significantly associated with RFS outcomes (P  4 cm (P  Conclusion Tumour size impacts RFS after thyroidectomy in T1–T3 PTC patients.