Differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid with extrathyroidal extension

We have analyzed our experience with differentiated thyroid cancer patients with extrathyroidal extension (ETE) to investigate patterns of recurrence and define factors that predict failure.The records of 1,012 patients treated surgically from 1930 to 1985 were reviewed. A total of 79 patients (8%) had ETE. The median length of follow-up was 10 years.Patients with ETE were more likely to fail treatment and to die of their disease than were...