Clinical Treatment Status of Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma

doi:10.37015/AUDT.2025.240027

Abstract

Abstract:

Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is a subtype of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) characterized by a diameter of less than 10 mm. While its incidence is on the rise, PTMC generally carries a favorable prognosis. Traditional surgical intervention remains the primary treatment method, widely recognized for its effectiveness. However, surgical procedures can lead to postoperative scarring and complications, posing challenges for patients. For some low-risk PTMC cases that exhibit long periods of non-progression, active surveillance has emerged as a viable treatment option. Thermal ablation technology, guided by ultrasound, has demonstrated comparable short-term efficacy to surgery but with smaller incisions and reduced costs, offering a new alternative for PTMC patients. Currently, the management strategies for PTMC exhibit considerable diversity, contributing to ongoing debates in treatment approaches. This paper provides a comprehensive summary and review of the primary therapies available today.

Key words: Thyroid gland; Papillary microcarcinoma; Active surveillance; Thermal ablation

Liu Tong, Meng Kexin, Zhu Ying, Fan Fengjing, Wang Bei. Clinical Treatment Status of Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma. Advanced Ultrasound in Diagnosis and Therapy, 2025, 9(1): 41-46.

Figures/Tables 1

References 38

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Year	Researchers	Main content	References
2021	KIM H J	For low-risk PTMC treatment, both thermal ablation and surgery are safe and effective options. The complication rate of thermal ablation is also low, making it a viable alternative to surgery.	[26]
2021	ZU Y	Patients treated with microwave ablation have similar rates of postoperative recurrence and metastasis compared to surgical patients. Additionally, the microwave ablation group has a lower incidence of complications and less trauma compared to the surgical group.	[27]
2024	ZHANG J	Thermal ablation treatment for multifocal PTMC does not increase the risk of tumor recurrence and metastasis.	[28]
2021	BERNARDI S	In most PTMC patients, radiofrequency ablation achieves comparable short-term efficacy to surgery, with a lower incidence of complications.	[29]