Comparison of Postoperative Unfavorable Events in Patients with Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Immediate Surgery Versus Conversion Surgery Following Active Surveillance

Long-term comparison of image-guided thermal ablation vs. lobectomy for solitary papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a multi-center retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Image-guided thermal ablation has been applied in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) who refuse surgery or active surveillance. However, evidence to support ablation is limited by single-center designs and a lack of long-term data. The purpose of this study was to compare long-term outcomes between ablation and lobectomy for patients with solitary PTMC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This multi-center retrospective study included 1021 consecutive patients with solitary PTMC who underwent ablation ( n =444) or lobectomy ( n =577) at the four university-affiliated hospitals. The primary outcomes were disease progression [lymph node metastasis (LNM), recurrent tumors, persistent tumors and distant metastasis] and disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary outcomes were complications, hospitalization, procedure time, estimated blood loss and cost. The two groups were compared using propensity score matching.

RESULTS

After matching, no significant differences were observed in disease progression (4.7% vs. 3.4%, P =0.307), LNM (1.6% vs. 1.6%, P =1.000), recurrent tumors (2.9% vs. 1.8%, P =0.269), persistent tumors(0.2% vs. 0%, P =0.317) and DFS (95.5% vs. 97.1%, P =0.246) between the ablation and lobectomy groups during the median follow-up of 96.5 months. The ablation group had significantly lower complication rates (0.7% vs. 5.2%, P <0.001), shorter post-treatment hospitalization {median [interquartile range (IQR)], 0 vs. 4.0 [3.0] days, P <0.001}, shorter procedure time [8.5 (2.8) vs. 90.0 (43.8) min, P <0.001], reduced estimated blood loss [0 vs. 20.0 (10.0) ml, P <0.001], and lower cost [$1873.2 (254.0) vs. $2292.9 (797.8), P <0.001] than the lobectomy group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed comparable disease progression and survival outcomes between ablation and lobectomy for solitary PTMC. Imaged-guided thermal ablation could be effective and safe alternatives to lobectomy for properly selected patients with PTMC.

Summary and update on the management of differentiated thyroid cancer in 2023

The 6-fold increase in the incidence of differentiated thyroid cancer over the past 30 years in industrialized countries can be mainly attributed to improved detection. At the same time, in addition to the excellent prognosis for low-risk cancers, improved survival in metastatic forms has been also reported, likely due to the progress made recently in the treatment of aggressive forms, for which there is now an extensive therapeutic arsenal. Today, clinical management of differentiated thyroid cancer represents a paradigm of precision oncology, with personalized, risk-adapted therapeutic strategies. This has led to therapeutic de-escalation in those forms with a good prognosis, while targeted treatments play an increasingly important role in the management of radioiodine-refractory or advanced cancers. While endocrinologists will not always have the opportunity to prescribe these treatments, they will be called on to support and monitor patients during treatment. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of treatment options for differentiated thyroid cancer in 2023.

A nomogram for predicting adverse pathologic features in low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Identifying risk factors for adverse pathologic features in low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) can provide valuable insights into the necessity of surgical or non-surgical treatment. This study aims to develop a nomogram for predicting the probability of adverse pathologic features in low-risk PTMC patients.

METHODS

A total of 662 patients with low-risk PTMC who underwent thyroid surgery were retrospectively analyzed in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from May 2019 to December 2021. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for adverse pathologic features, and a nomogram was constructed based on these factors.

RESULTS

Most PTMC patients with these adverse pathologic features had tumor diameters greater than 0.6 cm (p < 0.05). Other factors (age, gender, family history of thyroid cancer, history of autoimmune thyroiditis, and BRAFV600E mutation) had no significant correlation with adverse pathologic features (p > 0.05 each). The nomogram was drawn to provide a quantitative and convenient tool for predicting the risk of adverse pathologic features based on age, gender, family history of thyroid cancer, autoimmune thyroiditis, tumor size, and BRAFV600E mutation in low-risk PTMC patients. The areas under curves (AUC) were 0.645 (95% CI 0.580-0.702). Additionally, decision curve analysis (DCA) and calibration curves were used to evaluate the clinical benefits of this nomogram, presenting a high net benefit.

CONCLUSION

Tumor size > 0.60 cm was identified as an independent risk factor for adverse pathologic features in low-risk PTMC patients. The nomogram had a high predictive value and consistency based on these factors.

Active Surveillance for Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma as an Acceptable Management Option with Additional Benefits: A Comprehensive Systematic Review

BACKGRUOUND

Active surveillance (AS) has been introduced as a management strategy for low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) due to its typically indolent nature. Despite this, the widespread adoption of AS has encountered several challenges. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the safety of AS related to disease progression and its benefits compared with immediate surgery (IS).

METHODS

Studies related to AS in patients with low-risk PTC were searched through the Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed databases. Studies on disease progression, surgical complication, quality of life (QoL), and cost-effectiveness were separately analyzed and narratively synthesized.

RESULTS

In the evaluation of disease progression, the proportions of cases with tumor growth ≥3 mm and a volume increase >50% were 2.2%-10.8% and 16.0%-25.5%, respectively. Newly detected lymph node metastasis was identified in 0.0%-1.4% of patients. No significant difference was found between IS and delayed surgery in surgical complications, including vocal cord paralysis and postoperative hypoparathyroidism. AS was associated with better QoL than IS. Studies on the cost-effectiveness of AS reported inconsistent data, but AS was more cost-effective when quality-adjusted life years were considered.

CONCLUSION

AS is an acceptable management option for patients with low-risk PTC based on the low rate of disease progression and the absence of an increased mortality risk. AS has additional benefits, including improved QoL and greater QoL-based cost-effectiveness.

Active Surveillance for Low-Risk Thyroid Cancers: A Review of Current Practice Guidelines

The indolent nature and favorable outcomes associated with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma have prompted numerous prospective studies on active surveillance (AS) and its adoption as an alternative to immediate surgery in managing low-risk thyroid cancer. This article reviews the current status of AS, as outlined in various international practice guidelines. AS is typically recommended for tumors that measure 1 cm or less in diameter and do not exhibit aggressive subtypes on cytology, extrathyroidal extension, lymph node metastasis, or distant metastasis. To determine the most appropriate candidates for AS, factors such as tumor size, location, multiplicity, and ultrasound findings are considered, along with patient characteristics like medical condition, age, and family history. Moreover, shared decision-making, which includes patient-reported outcomes such as quality of life and cost-effectiveness, is essential. During AS, patients undergo regular ultrasound examinations to monitor for signs of disease progression, including tumor growth, extrathyroidal extension, or lymph node metastasis. In conclusion, while AS is a feasible and reliable approach for managing lowrisk thyroid cancer, it requires careful patient selection, effective communication for shared decision-making, standardized follow-up protocols, and a clear definition of disease progression.

Global scientific trends on thyroid disease in early 21st century: a bibliometric and visualized analysis

Background

Bibliometrics has been used to analyze the literature in the field of thyroid disease studies in the early 21st century, indicating the changes in current international study trends.

Methods

In this study, a bibliometric analysis of data retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database was conducted, and the publication trends and thematic evolution in the field of thyroid disease research from January 1, 2000, to November 16, 2022, were analyzed. A total of 69283 articles related to thyroid diseases were evaluated for their characteristics, including annual publication volume, countries, journals, institutions, authors, keywords, and references. VOSviewer was utilized to perform the analysis of co-authorship, co-citation, co-occurrence and descriptive.

Results

The annual publication volume of thyroid disease research literature showed a fluctuating upward trend from 2000 to 2021, exceeding 5,000 articles for the first time in 2021. The United States (16120 counts, 678255 cities) ranks first in terms of publication volume and citation. Thyroid (n=3201) and Journal of Clinical Endocrinology&Metabolism (n=140399) are the most prolific and cited journals, respectively. The organization with the highest publication volume and citation frequency is Harvard University (1011 counts, 59429 cities), Miyauchi Akira (n=422), Schlumberger, and Martin (n=24839) possess the highest publication volume and citation frequency, respectively. Co-occurrence analysis of 307 keywords with frequencies of more than 20 resulted in 6 clusters (1): Thyroid dysfunction and diseases (2); mechanism of occurrence and development of thyroid cancer (3); autoimmune thyroiditis (4); scope and postoperative management of thyroid surgery (5); fine needle aspiration of thyroid nodules (6); radioactive iodine therapy for thyroid cancer. Active monitoring, thermal ablation, Lenvatinib, and long noncoding RNA refer to the latest keywords. Discussing the six clusters helps scholars to determine the scope and direction of studies.

Conclusion

Over the past two decades, the literature related to thyroid diseases has increased year by year, with closer collaboration between countries, institutions, and authors. In this study, the global trends, research hotspots, emerging subjects, and basic knowledge of literature related to thyroid diseases were respectively elucidated, which will facilitate researchers in this field to seek better development.

Efficacy of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma after one year

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and safety of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation guided by ultrasound for treating papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

METHOD

At our institution, fifty people who had been treated for micropapillary thyroid cancer with ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation were chosen. Thyroid function was evaluated after one month, and the volume of the ablation region was assessed immediately, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. At the same time, the complications or adverse reactions after treatment were evaluated.

RESULTS

As time passed, the volume of the ablation area decreased gradually, showing a regression trend. There was a significant difference in the volume of the ablation area between adjacent groups (P < 0.05), and the tumor volume reduction ratio (VRR) of the ablation area was a statistically significant difference between adjacent groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the indexes related to thyroid function before and after treatment(P > 0.05). No local recurrence or distant metastasis was found during follow-up; The most common complication after the operation was a slight pain in the neck. A few patients had toothache and neck swelling symptoms, and the above symptoms subsided within 24 h after the operation.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation is safe and effective for treating single-focus micropapillary thyroid carcinoma while retaining thyroid function, with few and minor complications, which can be used as an ideal surgical option.

Choice of management strategy for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: active surveillance or immediate surgery?

Overdiagnosis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is prevalent, and effective management of PTMC is an important matter. The high incidence and low mortality rate of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) justify the preference for active surveillance (AS) over immediate surgery (IS), particularly in cases of low-risk PTMC. Japan began AS in the 1990s as an alternative surgical option for PTMC and it has shown promising results. The safety and efficacy of AS management in PTMC have been verified. However, AS may not be suitable for all PTMC cases. How to find the balance between the decision-making of AS and IS requires careful consideration. Therefore, we collected and analyzed the relevant evidence on the clinical strategies for PTC and discussed AS and IS from the perspectives of health, economic, and psychological aspects, to help clinicians in choosing a more appropriate clinical strategy for PTC.

Active surveillance versus immediate surgery: A comparison of clinical and quality of life outcomes among patients with highly suspicious thyroid nodules 1 cm or smaller in China

INTRODUCTION

Active surveillance (AS) is considered an alternative to immediate surgery (IS) for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) patients. However, it is difficult to decide between AS and IS due to limited evidence regarding risks and benefits for patients in China.

METHODS

This study prospectively enrolled 485 patients with highly suspicious thyroid nodules

RESULTS

The oncological outcomes of the IS and AS groups were similarly excellent. The IS group had significantly higher rates of temporary vocal cord paralysis (VCP) and temporary hypoparathyroidism than the AS group (2.7% vs. 0.2%, p = 0.002; 13.6% vs.1.9%, p < 0.001, respectively). The IS group had significantly more patients on hormone replacement therapy (98.4% vs. 10.9%, p < 0.001) and a significantly higher incidence of neck scarring (94.3% vs. 9.1%, p < 0.001) compared to the AS group. In the early stages, the quality of life questionnaire showed significant differences with respect to three items: voice, throat/mouth, and surgical scarring, with more complaints in the IS group. However, one year or more after surgery, the main complaint was surgical scarring.

CONCLUSION

In China, AS can achieve similar short-term therapeutic effects as IS. As this approach can reduce the occurrence of unfavorable events, achieve better quality of life, it is a feasible option for patients with highly suspicious thyroid nodules.

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Key Words

• Active surveillance
• Adverse events
• Highly suspicious thyroid nodules
• Immediate surgery
• Quality of life

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MESH Headings

• Humans
• Thyroid Nodule/surgery
• Quality of Life
• Watchful Waiting
• Cicatrix/pathology
• Cicatrix/surgery
• Thyroidectomy/methods
• Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology
• China/epidemiology

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Affiliation(s)

Chunhao Liu Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
Hao Zhao Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
Yu Xia Department of Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
Yue Cao Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
Liyang Zhang Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
Ya Zhao Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
Luying Gao Department of Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
Ruifeng Liu Department of Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
Yuewu Liu Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
Hongfeng Liu Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
Zhilan Meng Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
Shuzhou Liu Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan, 570311, China.
Ying Lu Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
Xiaoyi Li Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.

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Active Surveillance May Be the Best Initial Management for Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma

Active surveillance for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC; T1aN0MI) was initiated at Kuma Hospital (Kobe, Japan) in 1993, based on a proposal by Akira Miyauchi. Favorable outcomes of such surveillance have been reported. Our latest study revealed 5- and 10-year tumor enlargement rates (by ≥ 3 mm) of 3.0% and 5.5% and 5- and 10-year node metastasis appearance rates of 0.9% and 1.1%, respectively. The postoperative prognosis did not differ between patients who underwent immediate surgery and those who underwent conversion surgery after progression. These findings suggest that active surveillance may be the best initial management of PTMCs.