Prognostic factors of differentiated thyroid cancer patients in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Voralu K, Norsa'adah B, Naing NN, Biswal BM
Correspondence: Dr Kirtanaa Voralu, kirtanaa@aimst.edu.my

ABSTRACT
Introduction The aim of this study was to identify the prognostic factors that influence the survival of differentiated thyroid cancer patients treated at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM).
Methods A total of 178 patients diagnosed with and treated for differentiated thyroid cancer in HUSM between January 1974 and July 2003 were included in this retrospective cohort study. The additional follow-up period was one year after the end of the recruitment phase. The data was collected from the medical records of the patients.
Results The overall five- and ten-year relative survivals of differentiated thyroid cancer patients in HUSM were 90.6 percent (95 percent confidence interval [CI] 84.4-94.4) and 85.3 percent (95 percent CI 76.0-91.2), respectively. The significant prognostic factors for differentiated thyroid cancer were age (hazard ratio [HR] 6.9; 95 percent CI 1.7-28.6), loss of appetite (HR 10.9; 95 percent CI 2.7-43.7), tumour size (HR 3.7; 95 percent CI 1.1-13.8), regional recurrences (HR 3.2; 95 percent CI 1.1-9.8), high-risk stage (HR 19.9; 95 percent CI 4.4-90.4), and treatment (HR 0.2; 95 percent CI: 0.1-0.5).
Conclusion The survival rates obtained in this study were slightly lower than other studies but the pattern of survival rates between groups were similar. Prognostic factors identified in this study were similar to those of other studies, suggesting that the experience of HUSM was almost similar with that of other institutions.

Keywords: cancer prognosis, cancer survival rates, differentiated thyroid cancer, thyroid cancer
Singapore Med J 2006; 47(8): 688-692