Minimal or absent tumor desmoplasia predicts lower recurrence risk in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has an excellent prognosis, yet recurrence remains a clinical concern. Patients at intermediate risk may benefit from additional prognostic markers. We aimed to evaluate whether tumor desmoplasia predicts recurrence in intermediate-risk PTC patients and to assess its prognostic clinical utility.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study with follow-up of at least 36 months at a high-volume tertiary endocrine center. We included 121 patients with intermediate-risk PTC who achieved an excellent or indeterminate response to initial therapy at 12 months. Tumor desmoplasia was assessed on hematoxylin-eosin-stained thyroid sections by two pathologists. Desmoplasia was graded on a semi-quantitative 4-point scale based on the proportion

SUBMITTER: Piticchio T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12583892 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature