Risk Stratification in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Importance and Clinical Implications of Preoperative Risk Stratification

Risk stratification is the cornerstone of nearly all diagnostic and therapeutic management decisions in differentiated thyroid cancer. In this video, I review the current approach to risk stratification that emphasizes initial risk stratification using the American Thyroid Association risk stratification system and the American Joint Commission on Cancer staging systems augmented by ongoing risk stratification as new data become available over time. Although risk stratification can be divided into three general time frames (preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative time periods), this video focuses on risk stratification in the preoperative period.