[Is our treatment of well-differentiated thyroid cancer too aggressive? Hemithyroidectomy versus total thyroidectomy]

Recent literature shows that hemithyroidectomy is a safe alternative for total thyroidectomy in the treatment of patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer up to 4 cm in diameter and a low risk of recurrence. According to criteria of the 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines, more than 28% of patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer of a Dutch cohort would be eligible for hemithyroidectomy instead of the total thyroidectomy they actually underwent. However, standardisation and high quality pre- and postoperative diagnostics are required for responsible implementation of this new guideline in Dutch healthcare.