title: Papillary thyroid cancer.
abstract: In summary, PTC is common, although it rarely results in disease-specific mortality. It is being diagnosed increasingly in the subclinical phase as a result of enhanced ultrasound imaging and more aggressive surveillance of smaller thyroid nodules. US-guided FNA is the "gold-standard" for diagnosis. Although controversy continues about the appropriate surgical management of PTC, total thyroidectomy is usually indicated given the frequent multicentricity and metastases of the disease, which in turn, necessitates adjuvant RAI and careful surveillance. An enhanced prognostic classification could better guide initial surgical therapy, standardize surveillance, and reduce the risk of recurrent and persistent disease. Research efforts should focus on the genetic and molecular underpinnings of PTC, as these would facilitate the identification of additional prognostic factors and potential targets for novel therapies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, TMP 204, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. Julie.sosa@yale.edu
authors.forename: Julie Ann
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Udelsman
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf