Active surveillance of papillary microcarcinoma
Watching very small papillary thyroid cancers with ultrasound instead of operating, because most never grow and almost none cause harm.
Pioneered at Kuma Hospital (Japan) and Memorial Sloan Kettering: for papillary microcarcinomas (≤1 cm) without nodal or extrathyroidal disease, ~90% remain stable over a decade and delayed surgery is equally effective when needed. Endorsed by ATA guidelines; uptake outside Japan and Korea is still low. Addresses the overdiagnosis epidemic caused by ultrasound screening (South Korea's incidence rose 15-fold with no change in mortality).
How it works
Serial ultrasound at 6-12-month intervals with surgery triggered by growth ≥3 mm or nodal metastasis.
- Avoids lifelong thyroid hormone, voice and parathyroid injury for most
- Cost-saving
- Patient anxiety; requires reliable follow-up
- Not for tumours near the trachea or nerve
Latest papers
topQuery for this technology: (TITLE:"Active surveillance of papillary microcarcinoma" OR ABSTRACT:"Active surveillance of papillary microcarcinoma") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Active surveillance of papillary microcarcinoma, not a curated reading list.
Pages like this
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Shares Active surveillance, Thyroid cancer.