Diagnosis and treatment of thyroid microcarcinoma / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the diagnosis and surgical treatment of thyroid microcarcinoma. Methods The authors reviewed 53 cases of thyroid cancer, which were diagnosed during and after surgery from December 1993 to January 2002,including 42 cases of thyroid microcarcinoma. Results Out of the 53 cases,35 cases were diagnosed during surgery by frozen section method while the other 18 cases were postoperatively diagnosed by pathological examinations;complicated carcinomatous conversion in contralateral lobe was found in 2 cases and neck lymphatic metastasis in 3 cases; lobectomy plus excision of isthmus was performed in 35 cases, 7 of which simultaneously underwent neck lymph node clearance,and unilateral lobectomy or unilateral or bilateral subtotal lobectomy was adopted in the remaining cases. Recurrence in 2 cases was found during a follow-up period for 2 months～96 months (mean,46 months) in 35 cases, and no fatal cases occurred. Conclusions A high rate of missed diagnosis of thyroid microcarcinoma is present. Thyroid microcarcinoma should be surgically removed.