Practical management of well differentiated thyroid carcinoma in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
The optimal extent of surgery and postoperative management of patients with well differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) vary among countries and institutions. We assessed the practical management of WDTC in Korea by questionnaire and compared these results with those obtained in similar surveys of members of the Japanese Society of Thyroid Surgery (JSTS) and the International Association of Endocrine Surgeons (IAES).


METHODS
Questionnaires were sent by mail or e-mail to 266 members of the Korean Association of Endocrine Surgeons (KAES). Ninety members (33.8%) completed the questionnaire; their responses were compared with those of the JSTS and IAES surveys.


RESULTS
Total thyroidectomy was more prevalent in the KAES and IAES than in the JSTS, irrespective of tumor size in the low-risk group. Patients with papillary microcarcinoma were more likely to undergo aggressive central compartment node dissection in the KAES than in the IAES or JSTS. Thyroid stimulating hormone suppression therapy was administered to a higher proportion of patients and for longer times in the KAES and IAES than in the JSTS. Postoperative radioactive iodine treatment was more prevalent in the KAES than in the JSTS. There were no differences between the KAES and the JSTS in the treatment of patients with locally advanced thyroid carcinoma. External irradiation and radioactive iodine treatment for recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma were favored more by the KAES than the IAES and JSTS.


CONCLUSIONS
The actual practices of members of the KAES were almost similar to those of the IAES, but differed from those in Japan in some aspects. In general, however, members of the KAES favored more aggressive treatment of WDTC than did physicians in other countries.
Lee
Yong Sang
YS
Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, Korea.
Nam
Kee-Hyun
KH
Chung
Woong Youn
WY
Chang
Hang Seok
HS
Shigematsu
Naoyuki
N
Takami
Hiroshi
H
Kubo
Atsushi
A
Park
Cheong Soo
CS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D047368:Tumor Burden