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Active Surveillance of Thyroid Microcarcinomas: a Critical View

  • Head and Neck Cancers (EY Hanna, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Oncology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

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.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil

    Claudio R. Cernea

  2. Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil

    Leandro Luongo Matos & Cecília Eugênio

  3. São Paulo State Cancer Institute (Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo – ICESP), São Paulo, Brazil

    Leandro Luongo Matos & Ana Kober N. Leite

  4. Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil

    Leandro Luongo Matos & Ana Kober N. Leite

  5. Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil

    Giovanna Mattos Ferreira & Yasmin Sa Cerqueira

  6. Head and Neck Surgery of the Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil

    Felipe A. B. Vanderlei, Dorival de Carlucci, Renato N. Gotoda & Vergilius J. F. Araújo-Filho

  7. Department of Topographic Anatomy, Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil

    Flávio C. Hojaij

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  1. Claudio R. Cernea
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Correspondence to Claudio R. Cernea.

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Cernea, C.R., Matos, L.L., Eugênio, C. et al. Active Surveillance of Thyroid Microcarcinomas: a Critical View. Curr Oncol Rep 24, 69–76 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-021-01177-w

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