Microscopic Positive Tumor Margin Increases Risk for Disease Persistence but Not Recurrence in Patients with Stage T1-T2 Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Table 4

Outcomes, positive versus clear margins, T1 and T2 stage.

	Total n = 963	Positive margins n = 112	Clear margins n = 851	value
Follow-up
Years of follow-up median (range)	7 (3–20)	6 (3–19)	7 (3–20)	0.570
After initial management
Disease free	933 (97%)	103 (92%)	830 (98%)	0.001
Persistent disease	30 (3%)	9 (8%)	21 (2%)
During follow-up
Recurrence	12 (1%)	1 (1%)	11 (1%)	0.760
At last visit
Persistent disease	18 (2%)	4 (4%)	14 (2%)	0.240
Disease-free	945 (98%)	108 (96%)	837 (98%)

Data are presented as number (percentages), unless otherwise specified. Recurrence percentage based on the number of disease free excluding the persistent disease. Positive versus clear margins.