Endocrine Abstracts

Hurthle cell carcinoma (HCC) represents about 5% of differentiated thyroid carcinomas. When Hurtle cell represents more than 75% of cells population, the lesion can be considered a Hurthle cell tumor (HCT); it can be classify as malignant when capsular or vascular invasion is reported or if there is a perithyroid infiltration or distant metastases occur. Aim of this study was to present our own experience on the clinical and pathological features of patients (pts) affected by HTC that can predict disease progression and death. Age, disease stage, tumor size, extra glandular invasion, lymph-nodes disease, distant metastases, extensive surgery, radioiodine therapy and external beam radiation therapy as factors potentially associated with decreased survival were evaluated for all patients. We have identified 28 pts affected by Hurthle cell tumor, 9 with HCA and 19 with HCC (22 F, 6 M) mean age of HCT pts. was 49.7 years (30–72 years) versus 49.3 years (15–72 years) of HCC. In all pts, a total thyroidectomy was performed. At hystology were found 9 adenomas, 5 ‘minimally invasive’ and 14 invasive carcinomas. Average size of primary tumor was: 28.8 mm medium diameter in HCT versus 25.8 mm in HCC. None patients had lymph-nodes metastases. HCC patients TNM staging showed 9 patients stage I, 5 stage II, 4 stage III and 1 stage IVa (UICC 2002). All invasive carcinomas underwent ¹³¹I therapy (91–150 mCi). One HCC patient received external beam radiotherapy. The average follow-up period was 62 months (range 6–324). In none of our cases, with adenoma a relapse was observed. Only one HCC patient showed distant lung metastases at 60 months of follow up. In conclusion, HCC was not found to have an aggressive behaviour. None of HCT showed a relapse