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Well Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Current Treatment

  • Head and Neck Cancer (T Day, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Opinion statement

Well differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) is a relatively common malignancy accounting for an estimated 37,000 thousand cases in the United States in 2009 [1]. WDTC also has a generally high 5 year survival rate that correlates with age. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) greater than 1 cm is best managed by total thyroidectomy. Thyroid lobectomy and isthmusectomy may be adequate for unifocal PTC less than 1 cm in patients without negative prognostic factors. Central compartment and possible lateral neck dissections should be performed when nodal metastases are present in the respective nodal basins. Post-operatively, radioactive iodine ablation with 131I followed by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression is indicated in certain patients to improve locoregional control and reduce recurrence.

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Disclosure

Conflicts of Interest: JK Byrd: none, RJ Yawn: none, CST Wilhoit: none, ND Sora: none, L Meyers: none, J Fernandes: none, T Day: honoraria from Bristol-Myers and Eli Lilly

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Avenue, MSC 550, Charleston, SC, 29425-5500, USA

    J. Kenneth Byrd MD, Robert J. Yawn BS, Christina S. T. Wilhoit BA, CCRP & Terry Day MD

  2. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Medical Genetics, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, CSB 816, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA

    Nicoleta D. Sora MD, Linda Meyers MD & Jyotika Fernandes MD

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  1. J. Kenneth Byrd MD
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Correspondence to J. Kenneth Byrd MD.

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Byrd, J.K., Yawn, R.J., Wilhoit, C.S.T. et al. Well Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Current Treatment. Curr. Treat. Options in Oncol. 13, 47–57 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-011-0173-1

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