Vascular invasion in thyroid carcinomas of follicular epithelial derivation.

We [...] reviewed retrospectively the clinicopathological features of a series of 4000 thyroid carcinomas of follicular epithelial derivation to identify the features and significance of the most rigid criteria of vascular invasion When using the rigid criteria, ~1/3 of angioinvasive well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas and 1/2 of angioinvasive poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas developed distant metastases at a mean 5.3 years of follow-up. Our results indicate that the application of rigid criteria for vascular invasion provide a clinically relevant prediction of distant metastasis in patients with thyroid carcinomas, especially in well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas.

Dall' abstract di Mete O, Asa SL. Pathological definition and clinical significance of vascular invasion in thyroid carcinomas of follicular epithelial derivation. Mod Pathol. 2011 Dec;24(12):1545-52.