What is papillary Microcarcinoma?

Introduction. Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is a thyroid cancer with small tumors that are 1.0 cm maximum in diameter [1]. The term “PTMC” was introduced for the first time by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1989 [1].

How do you treat papillary carcinoma?

Papillary cancer and its variants. Most cancers are treated with removal of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy), although small tumors that have not spread outside the thyroid gland may be treated by just removing the side of the thyroid containing the tumor (lobectomy).

What does Microcarcinoma mean?

Microcarcinomas are thyroid cancers < 1 cm in size. These microcarcinomas typically are papillary thyroid cancer, the most common type of thyroid cancer. There remains much debate among thyroid cancer specialists about how to manage these small cancers.

Is radioactive iodine treatment necessary after thyroidectomy?

Giving radioactive iodine within 3 months after thyroidectomy results in better responses than delaying therapy beyond 3 months after surgery. Patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer usually have an excellent prognosis. This is due to effective therapies, including surgery and, when needed, radioactive iodine therapy.

What are the benefits of thyroidectomy?

In this study, initial treatment of Graves’ disease with thyroidectomy is associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular complications, and neuropsychiatric symptoms and lower direct health care costs at 10-year follow-up.

What does papillary mean in medical terms?

Definition of papillary : of, relating to, being, or resembling a papilla or nipple-shaped projection, mass, or structure : marked by the presence of papillae papillary thyroid carcinoma tumors with papillary projections.

How serious is papillary carcinoma?

Papillary carcinoma typically arises as a solid, irregular or cystic mass that comes from otherwise normal thyroid tissue. This type of cancer has a high cure rate—10-year survival rates for all patients with papillary thyroid cancer estimated at over 90%.

What happens when you have papillary carcinoma?

Most papillary thyroid cancers are small and respond well to treatment, even if the cancer cells spread to the lymph nodes in the neck. A small portion of papillary thyroid cancers are aggressive and may grow to involve structures in the neck or spread to other areas of the body.