Table 1 Patient characteristics and initial management
Parameter | Â | N = 2013 |
|---|---|---|
Age (years) | Median (range) | 41.8 (13.9-88.2) |
  ≥ 55 | n (%) | 231 (11.5) |
 45–55 | n (%) | 530 (26.3) |
  <  45 | n (%) | 1252 (62.2) |
Female sex | n (%) | 1445 (71.8) |
Family history of thyroid cancer | n (%) | 38 (1.9) |
 Thyroiditis | n (%) | 20 (1.0) |
 Hyperthyroidism | n (%) | 36 (1.8) |
 Hypothyroidism | n (%) | 9 (0.4) |
 Thyroid nodules | n (%) | 666 (33.1) |
Previous thyroid hormone replacement therapy | n (%) | 37 (1.8) |
Pre-operative complications | n (%) | 13 (0.6) |
 Dysphonia |  | 5 (0.2) |
 Neck pain |  | 3 (0.1) |
 Palpitations |  | 3 (0.1) |
Thyroid symptoms | n (%) | Â |
 Hoarseness |  | 41 (2.0) |
 Dysphagia |  | 13 (0.6) |
 Dyspnea |  | 14 (0.7) |
 Cervical mass |  | 624 (31.0) |
Preoperative evaluation | ||
 Ultrasound | n (%) | 1937 (96.2) |
  Suspicious lymph node metastases | n (%) | 633 (31.4) |
  Benign | n (%) | 608 (30.2) |
  Malignant | n (%) | 1348 (67.0) |
  Unknown | n (%) | 57 (2.8) |
  Thyroid nodules present | n (%) | 1937 (96.2) |
  Number of nodules | Median (range) | 2.0 (1–9) |
  Nodule size, cm | Median (range) | 0.97 (0.08–13.20) |
 FNAB | n (%) | 738 (36.7) |
 Thyroid/neck lymph node abnormalities | n (%) | 1427 (71.0) |
 Baseline TSH available | n (%) | 1927 (95.7) |
 Baseline TSH value (mU/L) | Median (range) | 2.21 (0.00–100.00) |
Surgical approach | ||
 Total/near-total thyroidectomy | n (%) | 1672 (83.1) |
 Lobectomy + isthmusectomy | n (%) | 202 (10.0) |
 Other types of thyroidectomy | n (%) | 139 (6.9) |
 Lymph node dissection | n (%) | 1993 (99.0) |
  Central (level VI, VII) | n (%) | 1913 (95.0) |
  Lateral (level I–V) | n (%) | 880 (43.7) |
  Therapeutic | n (%) | 1279 (63.5) |
  Prophylactic | n (%) | 710 (35.2) |
 TSH suppression | n (%) | 1841 (91.5) |
 RAI after surgery | n (%) | 982 (48.8) |