[A questionable surgical problem: the right treatment of occult thyroid carcinoma].
BACKGROUND
The authors review their experience about treatment of occult thyroid carcinoma.


METHODS
24 patients with papillary occult carcinoma of the thyroid were observed in the period 1999-2001. All carcinoma was 10 mm in diameter. In seventeen patients (71%) was performed a total thyroidectomy, while in seven (29%) a lobectomy; in four of seven patients treated with lobectomy was subsequently performed a total thyroidectomy. Total thyroidectomy wasn't performed in three female patients aged < 35 years, with a 5 mm diameter carcinoma. In two patients (8.3%) with nodal metastasis a lymph node excision was performed. All patients were alive and free of disease at last control.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidental finding of occult thyroid carcinoma in a patient treated with a lobectomy does not entail a subsequent total thyroidectomy, because of this surgical procedure may be oncologically correct; therefore the authors believe that total thyroidectomy may be the treatment of choice of occult carcinoma, because it allows a correct oncological follow-up.
Cannizzaro
M A
MA
Università degli Studi di Catania, Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, Trapianti d'Organo e Tecnologie Avanzate Cattedra e Servizio Clinicizzato di Endocrinochirurgia P.O.U. San Luigi e Santi Currò, Catania.
Veroux
M
M
Cavallaro
A
A
Costanzo
M
M
Veroux
P F
PF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy