Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association
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Although hereditary nonmedullary thyroid cancer is recognized as a distinct and isolated familial syndrome, the precise prevalence and genetic basis are poorly understood. Moreover, whether familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer (FNMTC) has a more aggressive clinical behavior is controversial. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of FNMTC, and compare the extent of disease and tumor somatic genetic alteration in patients with familial and sporadic papillary thyroid cancer. ⋯ We found a higher prevalence of FNMTC in patients with papillary thyroid cancer than previously reported. Patients with FNMTC present at a younger age. Somatic mutations and extent of disease are similar in sporadic and FNMTC cases.