Effect of Initial Treatment Choice on 2-year Quality of Life in Patients with Low-risk Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma

Psychological impacts of lobectomy and total thyroidectomy in PTC measuring 1 to 4 cm with low to intermediate risk of recurrence

PURPOSE

To investigate the implications of Lobectomy (LT) or total thyroidectomy (TT) on psychological distress and sleep quality in PTC patients with a low to intermediate risk of recurrence and tumors measuring 1 to 4 cm.

METHODS

Patients who were admitted to our hospital between July 2021 and July 2022 were prospectively enrolled in this survey. Psychological distress and sleep quality were assessed at hospitalization, discharge, and 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment using validated scales. Participants were divided into LT and TT groups, with propensity score matching (PSM) applied for analyses.

RESULTS

Among 525 eligible PTC patients, 440 patients completed all the questionnaires throughout the follow-up. After PSM, 166 patients underwent LT, and 166 patients underwent TT were enrolled. The psychological distress and sleep quality of patients in the LT group remained relatively stable during the 6-month follow-up, but patients in the TT group may have faced greater sleep quality concerns in the longitudinal assessment. Additionally, the sleep quality of the TT group was also worse than that of the LT group postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

The sleep quality rather than other psychological distress of patients with PTC with a low to intermediate risk of recurrence is associated with the extent of surgery.

Decision Regret Following the Choice of Surgery or Active Surveillance for Small, Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: It is important to understand cancer survivors' perceptions about their treatment decisions and quality of life. Methods: We performed a prospective observational cohort study of Canadian patients with small (<2 cm) low-risk papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) who were offered the choice of active surveillance (AS) or surgery (Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03271892). Participants completed a questionnaire one year after their treatment decision. The primary intention-to-treat analysis compared the mean decision regret scale total score between patients who chose AS or surgery. A secondary analysis examined one-year decision regret score according to treatment status. Secondary outcomes included quality of life, mood, fear of disease progression, and body image perception. We adjusted for age, sex, and follow-up duration in linear regression analyses. Results: The overall questionnaire response rate was 95.5% (191/200). The initial treatment choices of respondents were AS 79.1% (151/191) and surgery 20.9% (40/191). The mean age was 53 years (standard deviation [SD] 15 years) and 77% (147/191) were females. In the AS group, 7.3% (11/151) of patients crossed over to definitive treatment (two for disease progression) before the time of questionnaire completion. The mean level of decision regret did not differ significantly between patients who chose AS (mean 22.4, SD 13.9) or surgery (mean 20.9, SD 12.2) in crude (p = 0.730) or adjusted (p = 0.29) analyses. However, the adjusted level of decision regret was significantly higher in patients who initially chose AS and crossed over to surgery (beta coefficient 10.1 [confidence interval; CI 1.3-18.9], p = 0.02), compared with those remaining under AS. In secondary adjusted analyses, respondents who chose surgery reported that symptoms related to their cancer or its treatment interfered with life to a greater extent than those who chose AS (p = 0.02), but there were no significant group differences in the levels of depression, anxiety, fear of disease progression, or overall body image perception. Conclusions: In this study of patients with small, low-risk PTC, the mean level of decision regret pertaining to the initial disease management choice was relatively low after one year and it did not differ significantly for respondents who chose AS or surgery.

Effects of different surgical approaches on health-related quality of life in pediatric and adolescent patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to compare the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in pediatric and adolescent patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who underwent bilateral or unilateral thyroidectomy.

METHODS

This prospective observational study recruited children and adolescents diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma at low risk of recurrence. Participants were categorized into bilateral or unilateral thyroidectomy groups. They were asked to complete one questionnaire regarding basic information and three others regarding quality of life. HRQOL data from patients who underwent different procedures at various time points were compared.

RESULTS

Thirty patients underwent unilateral thyroidectomy and 54 bilateral thyroidectomy (median age = 14.27 years). HRQOL of the unilateral thyroidectomy group was higher than the bilateral group.

CONCLUSION

For children and adolescents with papillary thyroid carcinoma at low risk of recurrence, bilateral thyroidectomy is associated with a lower HRQOL than unilateral thyroidectomy. Surgeons should consider tumor impact and HRQOL when selecting the most appropriate surgical method.

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.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Low-Risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Systematic Review Examining the Extent of Thyroidectomy

Background: Total thyroidectomy (TT) and hemithyroidectomy (HT) are acceptable surgical options for the treatment of low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). While previous data suggest similar disease-free and disease-specific survival regardless of initial surgical treatment, the effect of the extent of surgery on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is less clear. This systematic review aimed to examine HRQOL in low-risk DTC survivors after TT compared with HT. Methods: A search of PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases was conducted to identify studies published between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2022, that assessed HRQOL predominantly in patients with low-risk DTC who underwent open thyroid surgery. Covidence™ software was used to apply the inclusion criteria, and a validated instrument was used to assess study quality. Results: Sixteen of the 1402 identified studies were included: 5 prospective and 11 retrospective cohort studies. The majority of included studies were of good quality (n = 14) and were from Asia and the Middle East (n = 11). Overall, six studies concluded that HT led to a better HRQOL than TT, two concluded that HT only resulted in better HRQOL compared with TT with central neck dissection (CND), and two concluded HT resulted in better short-term HRQOL that dissipated by 6 months postoperatively. The HRQOL domains found across all studies to be most consistently improved after HT included physical health, psychological/emotional, and social function. Factors found to be associated with HRQOL in more than one study included age, stage, and marital status. Conclusion: Differences in HRQOL after HT and TT tended to favor HT particularly when measured <6 months after surgery or when compared with TT with CND. Additional prospective and ideally randomized data are needed to fully determine the impact of the extent of surgery on HRQOL in patients with low-risk thyroid cancer.

Effect of thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression on quality of life in thyroid lobectomy patients: interim analysis of a multicenter, randomized controlled trial in low- to intermediate-risk thyroid cancer patients (MASTER study)

Purpose

Current clinical practices favor less or no thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression for low- to intermediate-risk thyroid cancer patients who receive thyroid lobectomy. The association of TSH suppression on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in patients after thyroid lobectomy is not well studied. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of TSH suppression on patient HR-QoL after thyroid lobectomy.

Methods

This study included patients enrolled in an ongoing, multicenter, randomized controlled study investigating the effects of TSH suppression. Patients were randomized to either the low-TSH group (TSH target range, 0.3-1.99 µIU/mL) or the high-TSH group (TSH target range, 2.0-7.99 µIU/mL). The HR-QoL, hyperthyroidism symptom, and depression symptom questionnaires performed preoperatively and 2 weeks and 3 months postoperatively were evaluated.

Results

Total of 669 patients (low-TSH group, 340; high-TSH group, 329) were included. Although total HR-QoL score changes were not different between the 2 groups, the high-TSH group had a significantly higher score in the physical domain at postoperative 3 months (P = 0.046). The 2 groups did not have significant differences in hyperthyroidism and depression scores.

Conclusion

In the short-term postoperative period, the physical HR-QoL scores in thyroid lobectomy patients were better when they did not receive TSH suppression. This study suggests the importance of considering HR-QoL when setting TSH suppression targets in thyroid lobectomy patients.

Quality of Life in Patients With Well-Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma After Total Thyroidectomy in Greece

INTRODUCTION

Well-differentiated thyroid cancer is among the most common types of endocrine cancer. Despite its increasing prevalence, the prognosis of thyroid cancer is rather good, with a five-year survival rate ranging between 80% and 90%, depending on the histological type. Not only the post-treatment complications and the side effects of the lifelong medication but also the possibility of a recurrence may have a negative impact on the patient's quality of life (QoL).

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of total thyroidectomy on the QoL of patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

METHODS

A prospective study was performed in patients who underwent total thyroidectomy due to well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma in the Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Department at the University Hospital of Larissa, Greece. The QoL was evaluated based on the "Quality of Life (Thyroid Version)" questionnaire.

RESULTS

One hundred patients participated in the study, with a mean age of 51.24±15.33 years. Of these, 63 (63%) were females and 37 (37%) were males. Social concerns, physical well-being, and psychological well-being presented a gradual positive alteration during the first 12 months after the surgery, with psychological well-being reporting the most significant progress of 15.3%. However, spiritual well-being appeared to decline over time. The younger patients progressively improved their physical, psychological, and mental well-being; however, the older patients showed an amelioration of their social skills. Female patients reported higher levels of spiritual well-being, whereas males developed better social skills.

CONCLUSIONS

In the long term, total thyroidectomy can ameliorate patients' physical status, psychological well-being, and social concerns. However, it might have a negative effect on their mental health during the first 12 months postoperatively. In addition, QoL is directly influenced by demographic characteristics such as age and gender.

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients with Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Cross-Sectional Study to Compare Active Surveillance and Immediate Surgery

BACKGROUND

This cross-sectional study compared patient-reported outcomes of low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC, T1N0M0) between patients who underwent active surveillance (AS) and those who received immediate surgery, METHODS: Using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Short-Form 36 version 2, and a visual analog scale for neck symptoms, 249 patients under AS and 32 patients underwent immediate surgery were compared. To match the difference in time from the onset of treatment to the survey, we conducted propensity score matching. We also investigated factors affecting anxiety in patients under AS in multiple linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

In the entire group, patients under AS had significantly longer time from the onset to the survey than patients underwent immediate surgery (7.9 vs. 4.0 years). After matching, AS group showed significantly better trait anxiety and mental component summary (MCS) compared to surgery group, while surgery group showed better role-social component summary. AS group also had significantly better MCS than the Japanese norm-based score. Surgery group displayed worse neck symptoms than AS group. Among AS group, trait anxiety and time from the onset were significant predictors of state anxiety. Compared with the group with < 5 years since starting AS, the group with ≥ 5 years of follow-up showed a significantly better state anxiety only in patients with better trait anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-risk PTC patients under AS showed better trait anxiety and mental health than surgery group. After a certain period, the anxiety of patients under AS seems to be improved, especially in patients with better trait anxiety.

The "not so good" thyroid cancer: a scoping review on risk factors associated with anxiety, depression and quality of life

The incidence of thyroid cancer has increased in recent years, leading to a growing number of survivors facing lifelong consequences. This scoping review investigated anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QoL) in thyroid cancer survivors compared to the general population, those with benign pathology, and survivors of other types of cancers. Moreover, we aimed to identify the risk factors associated with anxiety, depression, and QoL in thyroid cancer patients. A total of 727 articles were identified through PubMed, ProQuest, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases, and 68 articles that met the criteria were selected for data extraction. Thyroid cancer survivors have a poorer QoL compared to the general population, population with benign pathology, and survivors of other types of cancer associated with worse clinical outcomes. The main risk factors are grouped into socioeconomic factors, disease-specific factors, management factors, comorbidities, and patient perceptions. Effective communication between the patient and the medical team and behavioral interventions may reduce these risks. Despite the common perception of thyroid cancer as a "good cancer," the findings of this review demonstrate the need to address the risk factors associated with increased anxiety, depression, and lower QoL in survivors.

Active Surveillance for Low-Risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Less aggressive treatment options, including hemithyroidectomy and active surveillance, have been accepted as treatment options for low-risk small, differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Multiple studies have shown a low rate of cancer growth and lymph node metastases and no evidence of distant metastases during active surveillance of low-risk small DTC. However, not all patients with low -risk small DTC are ideal or appropriate candidate for active surveillance. Patients with thyroid cancer adjacent to either the trachea or recurrent laryngeal nerve or those with evidence of extrathyroidal extension, a high-risk molecular profile, lymph node, or distant metastases are considered inappropriate candidates for active surveillance. In addition, there are other essential factors that clinicians should consider while recommending active surveillance, including patient financial and insurance status; availability of high-quality neck ultrasounds and experienced radiologists, endocrinologists, and surgeons; and patient preference, level of anxiety, and willingness to undergo prolonged surveillance and follow-up imaging.

Psychological adjustment to initial treatment for low-risk thyroid cancer: Preliminary study

BACKGROUND

Low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (LR-PTC) can be managed by immediate surgery (IS) or active surveillance (AS). We compare the psychological impact of these treatments on patients with LR-PTC.

METHODS

Psychological data were collected over 1 year, with assessments at the time of treatment decision (T1), at 6 months (T2) and 12 months (T3) follow-up. Assessments included 13 validated psychological tools.

RESULTS

Of 27 enrolled patients, 20 chose AS and 7 chose IS. The average times to T2 and T3 were 5.7 and 11.3 months, respectively. For both groups, Impact of Events Scale scores significantly decreased (p = 0.001) at T2, and depressive/anxiety symptoms remained low.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the feasibility of assessing psychological outcomes among patients treated for LR-PTC. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of AS versus IS on quality of life and changes that patients experience over longer time periods following their treatment decision.

Review: Improving quality of life in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer

Well differentiated thyroid cancer is a common malignancy diagnosed in young patients. The prognosis tends to be excellent, so years of survivorship is expected with low risk disease. When making treatment decisions, physicians should consider long-term quality of life outcomes when guiding patients. The implications for treating indolent, slow growing tumors are immense and warrant careful consideration for the functioning years ahead. Surgery is the standard of care for most patients, however for a subset of patients, active surveillance is appropriate. For those wishing to treat their cancer in a more active way, novel remote access approaches have emerged to avoid a cervical incision. In the era of "doing less", options have further expanded to include minimally invasive approaches, such as radiofrequency ablation that avoids an incision, time off work, a general anesthetic, and the possibility of post-treatment hypothyroidism. In this narrative review, we examine the health related quality of life effects that surgery has on patients with thyroid cancer, including some of the newer innovations that have been developed to address patient concerns. We also review the impact that less aggressive treatment has on patient care and overall wellbeing in terms of active surveillance, reduced doses of radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment, or minimally invasive techniques such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for low risk thyroid disease.

Position paper from the Endocrine Task Force of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) on the management and shared decision making in patients with low-risk micro papillary thyroid carcinoma

The incidence of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) has been increasing worldwide, mostly, as an increase in the incidental detection of micro papillary thyroid carcinomas (microPTCs), many of which are potentially overtreated, as suggested by the unchanged mortality. Several international guidelines have suggested a less aggressive approach. More recently, it has been shown that active surveillance or minimally invasive treatments (MIT) are good alternatives for the management of these patients. In this context, patient participation in the decision-making process is paramount. The Endocrine Task Force of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) has undertaken the task to establish consensus and define its position based on the scientific evidence concerning, 1) the current state of diagnostic and management options in microPTCs, including the current opinion of physicians about shared decision making (SDM), 2) the available evidence concerning patients' needs and the available decision instruments, and 3) to provide practical suggestions for implementation of SDM in this context. To improve SDM and patients' participation, knowledge gaps and research directions were highlighted.

Active surveillance of low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

Recently, the incidence of thyroid carcinoma has been increasing rapidly worldwide. This is interpreted as an increase in the incidental detection of small papillary thyroid carcinomas by the widespread use of high-resolution imaging techniques such as ultrasonography. However, the mortality rates of thyroid carcinoma have not changed, suggesting that small papillary thyroid carcinomas may be overdiagnosed and overtreated. Active surveillance management has been introduced from Japan since the 1990s, as one of the measures to prevent overtreatment of low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Based on the favorable outcomes, active surveillance has been gradually adopted worldwide as an alternative to immediate surgery. The management should be carried out with strict eligibility criteria and close monitoring for cancer progression, under a multidisciplinary team. In addition, an adequate shared decision-making is mandatory for individual patients. Papillary thyroid microcarcinomas with clinically apparent lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, or invasion to adjacent organs should have surgery.

A Cross-Sectional Survey of Patient Treatment Choice in a Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study on Active Surveillance of Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma (MAeSTro)

Background: Active surveillance (AS) is offered as a choice to patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). This study aimed to identify patient and physician factors associated with the choice of AS. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of patients with low-risk PTMC who were enrolled in a prospective study comparing outcomes following AS and surgery. Patients completed a questionnaire to assess their prior knowledge of the disease, considerations in the decision-making process, and reasons for choosing the treatment. We also surveyed 19 physician investigators about their disease management preferences. Variables affecting the patients' choice of AS, including patients' characteristics and their decision-making process, were analyzed in a multivariable analysis. Results: The response rate of the patient survey was 72.8% (857/1177). Among the patients who responded to the survey, 554 patients (128 male; mean age 49.4 ± 11.6 years; response rate 73.4%) with low-risk PTMC chose AS (AS group), whereas 303 patients (55 male; 46.6 ± 10.7 years; 71.8%) chose immediate surgery (iOP group). In the AS group, 424 patients (76.5%) used a decision aid, and 144 (47.5%) used it in the iOP group. The choice of AS was associated with the following variables: patient age >50 years (odds ratio 1.713 [confidence interval, CI 1.090-2.690], p = 0.020), primary tumor size ≤5 mm (odds ratio 1.960 [CI 1.137-3.379], p = 0.015), and consulting an endocrinologist (odds ratio 114.960 [CI 48.756-271.057], p < 0.001), and use of a decision aid (odds ratio 2.469 [CI 1.320-4.616], p = 0.005). The proportion of patients who were aware of AS before their initial consultation for treatment decision was higher in the AS group than in the iOP group (64.6% vs. 56.8%). Family members were reported to have influenced the treatment decisions more in the iOP group (p = 0.025), whereas the AS group was more influenced by information from the media (p = 0.017). Physicians' attitudes regarding AS of low-risk PTMC tended to be more favorable among endocrinologists than surgeons and all became more favorable as the study progressed. Conclusions: Emerging evidence suggests that physicians' attitudes and communication tools influence the treatment decision of low-risk PTMC patients. Support is needed for patient-centered decision making. (Clinical trial No: NCT02938702).

Health-Related Quality of Life following Total Thyroidectomy and Lobectomy for Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: A Systematic Review

Health-related quality of life (HrQoL) is a major concern for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). We aimed to systematically review the literature comparing HrQol following total thyroidectomy (TT) and hemithyroidectomy (HT) in DTC patients. A systematic review of publications indexed in Medline, Embase, and EBM reviews—Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, which evaluated HrQoL following thyroid surgery for DTC, was conducted. Of 2507 identified records, 25 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Our results suggest that patients undergoing TT may suffer more impairment in physical and social HrQoL than patients undergoing HT. Psychological-related HrQoL and long-term global HrQoL are, however, equivalent in both groups, which highlights the multidimensional nature of HrQoL and the importance of a multitude of factors aside from treatment modalities and related morbidities, such as the experience of receiving a cancer diagnosis, the fear of cancer recurrence, and other psychosocial factors. Addressing postoperative HrQoL when discussing therapeutic options with patients is an integral part of patient-centered care and informed shared decision-making, and should be approached in a holistic manner, accounting for its physical, psychological, and social aspects. This review supplies evidence regarding HrQoL following thyroid surgery, which can be employed in such decisions.

Active Surveillance Versus Thyroid Surgery for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Systematic Review

Background: Active surveillance has been proposed as an appropriate management strategy for low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), due to the typically favorable prognosis of this condition. This systematic review examines the benefits and harms of active surveillance vs. immediate surgery for DTC, to inform the updated American Thyroid Association guidelines. Methods: A search on Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central was conducted in July 2021 for studies on active surveillance vs. immediate surgery. Studies of surgery vs. no surgery for DTC were assessed separately to evaluate relevance to active surveillance. Quality assessment was performed, and evidence was synthesized narratively. Results: Seven studies (five cohort studies [N = 5432] and two cross-sectional studies [N = 538]) of active surveillance vs. immediate surgery, and seven uncontrolled treatment series of active surveillance (N = 1219) were included. One cross-sectional study was rated fair quality, and the remainder were rated poor quality. In patients with low risk (primarily papillary), small (primarily ≤1 cm) DTC, active surveillance, and immediate surgery were associated with similar, low risk of all-cause or cancer-specific mortality, distant metastasis, and recurrence after surgery. Uncontrolled treatment series reported no cases of mortality in low-risk DTC managed with active surveillance. Among patients managed with active surveillance, rates of tumor growth were low; rates of subsequent surgery varied and primarily occurred due to patient preference rather than tumor progression. Four cohort studies (N = 88,654) found that surgery associated with improved all-cause or thyroid cancer mortality compared with nonsurgical management, but findings were potentially influenced by patient age and tumor risk category and highly susceptible to confounding by indication; eligibility for, and receipt of, active surveillance; and timing of surgery was unclear. Conclusions: In patients with small low-risk (primarily papillary) DTC, active surveillance and immediate surgery may be associated with similar mortality, risk of recurrence, and other outcomes, but methodological limitations preclude strong conclusions. Studies of no surgery vs. surgery are difficult to interpret due to clinical heterogeneity and potential confounding factors and are unsuitable for assessing the utility of active surveillance. Research is needed to clarify the benefits and harms of active surveillance and determine outcomes in nonpapillary DTC, larger (>1 cm) cancers, and older patients.

Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: Active Surveillance Against Surgery. Considerations of an Italian Working Group From a Systematic Review

Introduction

Active surveillance is considered a viable option for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Since the last decade of the 20th century, this method has spread from Japan to other countries, but has not yet been fully accepted and validated by the major Western Scientific Societies. In 2016, a systematic review on the results of active surveillance was published, based on two articles that showed encouraging results. Other reviews published subsequently, were mainly based on articles from the Far East. The aim of this review is to assess the most recent results published from 2017 to 2020 on this subject.

Materials and Methods

A systematic literature search was performed on MEDLINE via PUBMED, Web of Science, and Scopus according to PRISMA criteria. The MESH terms “papillary thyroid microcarcinoma” and “active surveillance” were adopted. Tumor progression, secondary localizations, and quality of life were the main benchmarks.

Results

Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The increase in volume ranged from 2.7% and 23.2%; the occurrence of lymph node metastases from 1.3% to 29%; QoL was improved in both articles that addressed this topic. The level of evidence is considered low due to the retrospective and uncontrolled nature of most of the studies included in the review.

Conclusion

The evidence from the literature currently available on AS falls into two strands: a robust data set from the Japanese experience, and an initial experience from Western countries, whose data are still limited but which show a lack of substantial alerts against this practice. Further data is useful to validate the spread of Active Surveillance.

Association of Total Thyroidectomy or Thyroid Lobectomy With the Quality of Life in Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Cancer With Low to Intermediate Risk of Recurrence

IMPORTANCE

Owing to the good prognosis of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), guidelines recommend total thyroidectomy (TT) or thyroid lobectomy (TL) as surgical treatment for DTC with low to intermediate risk of recurrence. However, the association of these surgeries with the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with DTC with low to intermediate risk of recurrence is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To longitudinally compare the HRQOL of patients with DTC undergoing different surgeries.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This prospective observational longitudinal cohort study enrolled patients diagnosed with DTC with low to intermediate risk of recurrence at the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China, from October 1, 2018, to September 31, 2019. Eligible patients were categorized into TL and TT groups according to the surgery they underwent. They were evaluated preoperatively and followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively using 3 HRQOL-related questionnaires (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, version 3.0; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and Thyroid Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire); serum thyrotropin levels, complications, and patient satisfaction were also monitored. Data were analyzed to compare the HRQOL of patients undergoing different surgeries at different time points.

EXPOSURES

Total thyroidectomy or TL.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary end point was HRQOL (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, version 3.0; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; and Thyroid Cancer-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire) at different time points, and the secondary end points were postoperative complications, thyrotropin level, and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

Of the 1060 eligible patients, 563 underwent TL (438 women [77.8%]; median [IQR] age, 38 [31-45] years), and 497 underwent TT (390 women [78.5%]; median [IQR] age, 38 [32-48] years). Compared with the TL group, including the 1- to 4-cm tumor subgroup, the TT group experienced more postoperative HRQOL problems at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. However, nearly all the differences disappeared at 6 and 12 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Results of this study suggest that HRQOL of patients with DTC with low to intermediate risk of recurrence is not associated with the extent of surgery, and HRQOL may not be an important consideration when making surgical decisions. If better HRQOL is requested in the short term, TL may be preferred.

Thermal ablation for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma located in the isthmus: a study with 3 years of follow-up

Aims: To analyze the outcomes of thermal ablation for isthmic papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Patients & methods: Data for 21 isthmic-PTMC patients who underwent microwave ablation under ultrasound guidance were retrospectively collected. General information on patients and characteristics of tumors were collected. The technical effectiveness, tumor recurrence and volume changes and postoperative complications were recorded during the follow-up. Comparisons with 105 nonisthmic-PTMCs were done. Results: The technical effectiveness was 100%. No recurrence or lymph node metastases were detected. Tumor volume decreased significantly with a volume reduction rate of 1.00 ± 0.01 (range: 0.99 to 1.0) at the final evaluation and seven cases (31.8%) were completely resolved. No complication was encountered. No statistical differences were observed in terms of complications, recurrence or the volume reduction rate compared with the nonisthmic group (all p > 0.05). Conclusions: Percutaneous microwave ablation is an effective treatment strategy for isthmic-PTMC.