Impact of Degree of Extrathyroidal Extension of Disease on Papillary Thyroid Cancer Outcome

Oncological outcome correlates with the extent of extrathyroidal invasion. Outcome is worse in patients with gross extrathyroidal disease extension than in those with microscopic local invasion apparent on histopathological assessment. However, the risk of clinical recurrence appears similar between patients undergoing margin-negative and "close margin" resection.