SAT-334 Comparative Retrospective Analysis of Recurrence Rates in Low- and High-Risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Abstract Disclosure: H. Cheema: None. M. Arshad: None. S. Khawaja: None. A.I. Siddiqi: None. Introduction: Differentiated thyroid cancer which includes both papillary and follicular cancer, accounts for more than 90% of all thyroid cancers. The ATA 2015 guidelines have significantly advanced the management of DTC by promoting individualized care and improving patient outcomes. Objective: The objective of our study was to determine the risk of recurrence in low vs high risk groups and the usefulness of ATA 2015 criteria as a screening tool for this purpose. Methods:Study Design: This retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with differentiated thyroid cancer between 2016 and 2018 who presented to a cancer hospital. Data on recurrence rates and time to relapse were collected and analyzed. A total of 181 patients were enrolled, with approximately one-third (47 patients) classified as low-risk and two-thirds (134 patients) as high-risk as per ATA guidelines. Patients were considered to have completed their follow-up if they attended clinic visits for 5 years or were discharged due to a confirmed cure. Those who did not complete the follow-up were categorized as dropouts. Recurrence Criteria: As per ATA 2015 guidelines, structural and biochemical recurrence were included. Inclusion Criteria:All the patients aged 18-60 years having differentiated thyroid cancers who presented to Shaukat Khanum Hospital from 2016 to 2018 were accepted. Exclusion Criteria: Patients who had received radioactive iodine, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy from an outside facility were excluded, as well as those with a history of any other malignancy. Results: In our study population, 19 out of 134 high-risk patients experienced recurrence, resulting in a recurrence rate of 14.17% in the high-risk group compared to a negligible risk in the low-risk group. In the low-risk group, 14 out of 47 patients were lost to follow-up before completing 5 years of monitoring compared to 23 in high risk group. The majority of recurrences occurred within the first 5 years, with two recurrences detected at six year interval. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the ATA 2015 risk stratification is a highly effective and reliable tool for distinguishing between low- and high-risk populations in differentiated thyroid cancer. Our findings show that low-risk patients had a negligible recurrence rate while high-risk patients exhibited a significantly higher recurrence rate, confirming the guidelines' utility in predicting recurrence risk. The majority of recurrences in the high-risk group occurred within the first five years of follow-up, highlighting the importance of intensive monitoring in high-risk cases. Presentation: Saturday, July 12, 2025