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Palliative Care15 papers

Solid papillary carcinoma with invasion

Last edited: 4/16/2026

Overview

Solid papillary carcinoma with invasion refers to a rare variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma that exhibits locally invasive characteristics, often presenting challenges in management, particularly in advanced stages where surgical options may be limited. 1

Diagnosis

  • Imaging-confirmed invasion into adjacent structures, commonly the sacrum in reported cases.
  • Primary tumors often originate from lung, colorectal, breast, bladder, kidney, or unknown primary sites.
  • Presence of extrasacral metastases in a significant proportion of patients.
  • No specific grading system mentioned for invasive characteristics in this context. 1
  • Management

  • First-line Treatment: Palliative radiotherapy (PR) is recommended for patients with advanced, inoperable tumors or those medically ineligible for surgery.
  • Adjunctive Treatments: Pain management and supportive care are crucial, with radiotherapy showing efficacy in symptom relief.
  • Symptom Relief: PR provided significant pain relief in the majority of symptomatic patients (71%).
  • Functional Improvement: Some patients regained mobility post-PR, particularly those who were non-ambulatory prior to treatment. 1
  • Special Populations

  • Elderly: The study cohort included elderly patients (average age 60 years), suggesting applicability but with consideration of comorbidities and functional status. 1
  • Comorbidities: Patients often had significant comorbidities, including extrasacral metastases, impacting treatment decisions and outcomes. 1
  • Key Recommendations

  • Consider palliative radiotherapy as a primary treatment option for patients with carcinoma invasion of the sacrum who are not candidates for surgical resection. (Evidence: Moderate) 1
  • Monitor and manage pain aggressively, as radiotherapy can provide substantial relief in symptomatic patients. (Evidence: Moderate) 1
  • Evaluate functional status pre- and post-treatment, as radiotherapy may restore mobility in non-ambulatory patients. (Evidence: Moderate) 1
  • References

    1 Ampil F, Sangster G, Caldito G, Richards T, Ngo Y, Kim D et al.. Palliative Radiotherapy as a Treatment for Carcinoma Invasion of the Sacrum: An Observational Case Series Study. Anticancer research 2018. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Palliative Radiotherapy as a Treatment for Carcinoma Invasion of the Sacrum: An Observational Case Series Study.Ampil F, Sangster G, Caldito G, Richards T, Ngo Y, Kim D et al. Anticancer research (2018)

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