Less-Intensive Management Options for Low-Risk Thyroid Cancer

The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing, whereas mortality remains relatively stable. An increasing body of research supports the use of less-intensive treatment for low-risk thyroid cancer, as the overall prognosis is excellent. Although total thyroidectomy was the gold standard for many years, the options of lobectomy alone, active surveillance, and other ablative modalities are increasingly being used. The clinicohistologic features of any thyroid cancer are important to help determine the optimal management for a given tumor. However, the patient's own desires and goals in their cancer treatment must be evaluated.