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Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Transoral Robotic Total Thyroidectomy and Bilateral Central Regional Lymph Node Dissection for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: September 15, 2023
Conservative thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
Hyun Joo Nahm1, Sung Jun Choi1, Young Chang Lim1
1Departments of Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Objective:
According to American Thyroid Association (ATA) guideline, thyroid lobectomy is recommended for the management of papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMC) with a diameter lesser than 1 cm. However, this procedure is associated with a risk of potential complications such as vocal cord palsy. Thus, we considered the applicability of conservative thyroidectomy, involving partial removal of the thyroid cancer lesion, not the entire ipsilateral thyroid lobe.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis of all PTMC patients who underwent conservative thyroidectomy at Konkuk University Hospital between August 2008 and February 2014 was performed. Oncologic results of these patients along with the incidence of postoperative complications were evaluated. Seventy-nine patients who underwent conservative thyroidectomy for the treatment of PTMC were enrolled in the present study.
Results:
Four of the 79 patients (5.0%) showed recurrence, 2 local (2.5%) and 2 regional (2.5%), respectively. All of these patients consequently underwent surgery alone and were salvaged. Temporary postoperative complications such as vocal cord palsy and hypocalcemia developed in 1 and 1 case, respectively, but completely recovered over time.
Conclusions:
Conservative thyroidectomy is an oncologically and functionally safe procedure for surgical treatment of PTMC and can be considered as an alternative to thyroid lobectomy for the surgical management of PTMC.
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