Profile of Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma Recurrence After Thyroid Resection at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, May 2021–May 2025

Abstract

Background: Follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) accounts for 10–15% of differentiated thyroid cancers and poses a risk of recurrence despite generally favorable outcomes. Recurrence is influenced by clinical and pathological factors, yet evidence from Southeast Asia remains limited. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of patients with recurrent FTC following thyroid resection at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya.

Methods: A descriptive observational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted using retrospective medical records of patients diagnosed with recurrent FTC between May 2021 and May 2025. Total sampling was applied. Data included patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and pathological features. Recurrence was defined as local lymph node or distant metastasis confirmed by imaging or biopsy. Descriptive statistics were generated using SPSS version 26.

Results: A total of 105 FTC patients were included, of whom 58 experienced recurrence. Most patients were female (74/105), and the predominant age group was 50–80 years (62/105). Recurrent cases were more common in women (47/59) and individuals aged >50–80 years (34/59). Pathological factors strongly associated with recurrence included larger tumor size (>5 cm: 26/59), gross extrathyroidal extension (57/59), multifocality (57/59), aggressive histology (57/59), lymph node metastasis (43/59), and lymphovascular invasion (47/59).

Conclusion: Recurrence of FTC was more frequent in older patients and women, and strongly associated with aggressive pathological characteristics. These findings underscore the importance of risk-adapted postoperative surveillance incorporating age, sex, and pathological features. Further multicenter studies are needed to refine prediction models and improve long-term management strategies for high-risk FTC patients.