Active Surveillance of Thyroid Microcarcinomas: a Critical View

Purpose of the Review There has been an increasing interest on active surveillance for papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMC) in the literature. We will analyze the contributions of those authors who support this approach in most patients with low-risk tumors. Recent Findings The development of mo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current oncology reports 2022, Vol.24 (1), p.69-76
Main Authors: Cernea, Claudio R., Matos, Leandro Luongo, Eugênio, Cecília, Ferreira, Giovanna Mattos, Cerqueira, Yasmin Sa, Leite, Ana Kober N., Vanderlei, Felipe A. B., de Carlucci, Dorival, Gotoda, Renato N., Hojaij, Flávio C., Araújo-Filho, Vergilius J. F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biopsy
Carcinoma, Papillary - pathology
Carcinoma, Papillary - surgery
Head and Neck Cancers (EY Hanna
Humans
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Morbidity
Oncology
Patients
Quality of Life
Retrospective Studies
Section Editor
Surveillance
Thyroid
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid gland
Thyroid Gland - pathology
Thyroid Neoplasms - surgery
Thyroidectomy
Topical Collection on Head and Neck Cancers
Tumors
Watchful Waiting
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Summary:Purpose of the Review There has been an increasing interest on active surveillance for papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMC) in the literature. We will analyze the contributions of those authors who support this approach in most patients with low-risk tumors. Recent Findings The development of molecular methods to effectively detect aggressive PTMC at the fine-needle aspiration biopsy will enable the sound indication of immediate surgery in those patients, assuring the other individuals with the far more frequent indolent PTMC will undergo active surveillance with less anxiety. Several studies compared the quality of life between patients with PTMC who underwent active surveillance with immediate total thyroidectomy. However, thyroid lobectomy is a quite acceptable intermediate alternative for most patients with PTMC, with less surgical morbidity. Summary It is important to wait for worldwide validation, with reports from low- and middle-income areas, before recommending the routine adoption of active surveillance for patients with PTMC, due to difficult logistic obstacles in those environments.
ISSN:1523-3790
1534-6269
DOI:10.1007/s11912-021-01177-w