A meta-analysis of total thyroidectomy and lobectomy outcomes in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

Current research on the most effective surgical method for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma is in dispute. Specifically, whether a total thyroidectomy (TT) is superior to a thyroid lobectomy (LT) in terms of recurrence rate, postoperative complications, and recurrence-free survival is an issue to be addressed. The objective of this study was to compare TT with LT in terms of recurrence, postoperative complications, and recurrence-free survival.

In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses standards, the PubMed, Embase, web of science and the Cochrane Library database were searched for relevant studies comparing TT versus LT. By pooling the relative risks (RR) of the 2 surgical procedures, perioperative results of the 2 group can be estimated. Recurrence-free survival was calculated from hazard ratios between the 2 surgical group.

This meta-analysis included 8 studies involving 16,208 patients. In the TT group, there were fewer recurrences than in the LT group. (RR = 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39 to 1.18; P = .001). In subgroup analyses based on country and sample size, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups for the recurrence rates. We found that patients that underwent LT had lower total complication rates (RR = 15.12; 95% CI, 8.89 to 25.73; P = .009), wound recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and hypocalcemia. In terms of survival, TT can provide better recurrence-free survival than LT, with a hazard ratios of 0.57 (95% CI 0.36 to 0.90; P = .003).

Comparing TT with LT, no statistical difference was found in recurrence rates between the 2 groups. In addition, the analysis showed a slight improvement in long-term recurrence-free survival for patients who underwent TT than for those who underwent LT, a finding with potential clinical implications for management decisions on papillary thyroid microcarcinoma treatment.