Active Surveillance or Surgery for Very Low Risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer: How Often are Disease Management Goals Met?

Summary

The risk of treating small, low risk papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) that is detected very early must be balanced with treatment risks, including those related to surgery to remove the thyroid gland, as well as potential life-long thyroid hormone treatment, and other treatments.

Close monitoring of cancer, with the plan to treat with surgery if it progresses, is called as active surveillance. There are some published long-term follow-up studies from Japan on the safety of AS in very low risk PTC.

In this study, we are offering eligible patients with small, low risk PTC, the option of active surveillance or surgery. We are examining the long-term outcomes, including how often patients in the surveillance group may avoid surgery for cancer progression and how often patients who choose surgery are cured (i.e. do not require additional PTC treatment). We are also examining patient-reported outcomes, including quality of life, mood, cancer survivor concerns, and feelings about disease management choice such as decision regret.