Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
05:12
Transoral Endoscopic Thyroidectomy Vestibular Approach for Thyroid Lobectomy
Published on: May 12, 2023
5.8K
Oncologic outcomes after completion thyroidectomy for patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma
Brian R Untch1, Frank L Palmer, Ian Ganly
1Division of General Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA, untchb@mskcc.org.
Annals of Surgical Oncology
|December 25, 2013
Summary
Completion thyroidectomy for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) is uncommon but effective for select intermediate and low-risk cases. This procedure demonstrates low recurrence rates, with contralateral cancers frequently found incidentally.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Surgical Oncology
- Thyroid Cancer Research
Background:
- Thyroid lobectomy is the standard for low-risk, unifocal intrathyroidal cancers, making completion thyroidectomy rare.
- This study aimed to define indications for selective completion thyroidectomy and evaluate oncologic outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify specific indications for performing completion thyroidectomy after initial lobectomy for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC).
- To assess the oncologic outcomes, including recurrence rates, in patients undergoing completion thyroidectomy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patients who had planned completion thyroidectomy for WDTC between 2001 and 2010.
- Risk stratification for recurrence was based on the American Thyroid Association Initial Risk Stratification guidelines.
Main Results:
- 79 patients underwent completion thyroidectomy; 56% were low risk and 44% intermediate risk.
- Recommended completion thyroidectomy was associated with larger tumors (T3 vs. T1a) and aggressive histology.
- Contralateral tumors, often multifocal micropapillary cancers, were found in 35% of cases with similar rates between recommended and optional surgery groups.
- No local-regional recurrences were observed during a median follow-up of 42.3 months, with two pulmonary recurrences.
Conclusions:
- Completion thyroidectomy is an infrequent procedure reserved for specific intermediate and low-risk WDTC cases, yielding low recurrence rates.
- Incidental contralateral cancers, both multifocal and unifocal, are common findings post-completion thyroidectomy.
