Small Papillary Thyroid
Cancer < 10 mm
Does Total Thyroidectomy and Radioiodine Ablation
Save Lives or Decrease Recurrence Rates?

A Mayo Clinic study of 900 thyroid micro-carcinomas from 1945-2004
The median size was 7 mm.

If the primary was completely resected by either lobectomy or total thyroidectomy, the patients with Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma have a 99% chance, they will not be threatened by the risks of distant cancer spread, or cancer specific mortality. Total thyroidectomy did not have any effect over lobectomy on outcomes over 40 years. Also the use of radioiodine ablation post operatively did not improve outcomes. There was no effect on tumor recurrence or cause specific mortality.

Results:
Patients need to be aware that radioiodine ablation has no place in the vast majority papillary micro-carcinoma treatment plans.

Reference: Ian Hay MD Mayo Clinic: A personal email answer to a ACT members question about small papillary cancers.