title: The follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer and noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP).
abstract: Noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) is a new terminology proposed for encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (EFVPTC). Recently, thyroid cancer incidence has increased dramatically, without affecting related mortality rate. This increase is widely attributed to the intensified surveillance leading to a substantial increase in the diagnosis of small classic papillary thyroid cancers and EFVPTCs. Recent studies emphasize the indolent behavior of the EFVPTC. Recently, there has been a reclassification of EFVPTC as NIFTP, a benign entity. The financial and emotional burden of 'cancer' diagnosis and treatment can be significant.
  
  
  
  This review recapitulates the literature supporting the reclassification of EFVPTC as NIFTP, a benign entity, and reviews standardized diagnostic criteria for EFVPTC.
  
  
  
  The information highlighted in this review will affect surgical decision making and may promote the offering of hemithyroidectomy over a total thyroidectomy to some patients with 'indeterminate' cytopathological category; postoperative radioiodine ablation will not be required for NIFTP patients.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio bDivision of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary cDepartment of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital dDivision of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scharpf
authors.forename: Dipti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kamani
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sadow
authors.forename: Gregory W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Randolph
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D006801:Humans; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*