Changes in TNM stage, reoperation and 131-I ablation rate during the use of newer methods for the preoperative diagnosis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Summary Objective To define and discuss the changes of important risk factors and TNM staging over the last 40 years in patients operated on for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), resulting from the introduction of newer sensitive diagnostic procedures in the preoperative evaluation of thyroid nodules. Patients We reviewed the medical records of 1251 patients with postoperative diagnosis of DTC who had undergone initial diagnosis, before surgery, at our unit, between 1971 and 2010. According to the period of diagnosis, the patients were divided into four groups (I, II, III, IV) corresponding to the four decades. Results The mean age at diagnosis was unchanged over time for both papillary (PTC) and follicular thyroid cancer (FTC). A decrease in the proportion of FTC (group I vs group IV P