Incidental multifocal papillary microcarcinomas of the thyroid: is subtotal thyroidectomy combined with radioiodine ablation enough?
BACKGROUND
The extent of thyroid resection and the necessity of lymph node dissection has become an issue of controversy in patients with incidental multifocal papillary microcarcinoma.


METHODS
Between 1993 and 2001 a total of 4120 patients underwent surgery for thyroid diseases: 142 patients showed papillary thyroid cancer of < or = 1 cm, multifocal microcarcinomas were found in 22 patients (15.5%). Twenty patients (17 women, three men, aged 26-71 years) met the inclusion criterion of having pre- and intraoperatively no indication of malignancy (incidentaloma). A limited surgical procedure ranging from bilateral subtotal (n=15), ipsilateral total, contralateral subtotal (n=4) to bilateral total (n=1) thyroidectomy without lymph node dissection was performed. The mean volume of thyroid remnants was 4.3 ml.


RESULTS
In 16/20 (80%) patients, the thyroid remnant was ablated by the first dose of 131I, using 3.7 GBq 131I in 15 patients and 1.85 GBq 131I in one patient. Three patients received a second, and one patient a third radioiodine ablation. All 20 patients remained free from relapse or metastasis, documented by negative 131I whole-body scintigraphy and unmeasurable thyroglobulin levels after thyroid hormone withdrawal in hypothyroidism. One patient died 7 years after the diagnosis of thyroid cancer from primary lung cancer. Median follow-up was 65 months (range, 24-120 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Subtotal thyroidectomy followed by radioiodine therapy without completion thyroidectomy and lymphadenectomy is a possible option in incidental multifocal microcarcinomas.
Dietlein
Markus
M
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. markus.dietlein@uni-koeln.de
Luyken
Walter A
WA
Schicha
Harald
H
Larena-Avellaneda
Antonio
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D015995:Prevalence; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals