Open AccessActive Surveillance as an Effective Management Option for Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma
Author(s) -
Min Ji Jeon,
Won Gu Kim,
Tae Yong Kim,
Young Kee Shong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
endocrinology and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.906
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 2093-5978
pISSN - 2093-596X
DOI - 10.3803/enm.2021.1042
Subject(s) - medicine , multidisciplinary team , multidisciplinary approach , intensive care medicine , thyroid cancer , thyroid , risk management , nursing , management , sociology , economics , social science
Active surveillance (AS) for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) has been accepted worldwide as safe and effective. Despite the growing acceptance of AS in the management of low-risk PTMCs, there are barriers to AS in real clinical settings, and it is important to understand and establish appropriate AS protocol from initial evaluation to follow-up. PTMC management strategies should be decided upon after careful consideration of patient and tumor characteristics by a multidisciplinary team of thyroid cancer specialists. Patients should understand the risks and benefits of AS, participate in decision-making and follow structured monitoring strategies. In this review, we discuss clinical outcomes of AS from previous studies, optimal indications and follow-up strategies for AS, and unresolved questions about AS.