Active surveillance for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: considerations before making a decision / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

ABSTRACT

For rapidly increasing low-risk papillary thyroid micocarcinoma (PTMC), Japanese scholars have proposed that immediate surgery can be replaced by active surveillance, i.e. observation strategy. The new strategy has brought not only an important update to the management of PTMC, but also controversies from different perspectives. Here we would like to give a thorough review on the observation strategy for PTMC, including its development background, available clinical data, current recommendations/suggestions by guidelines/consensuses, common misunderstandings toward this topic, challenges, and prospective in the future.