Therapeutic strategy of papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid gland: a nuclear medicine perspective

According to the literature, the prevalence of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is increasing. To date, PMTC account for up to 30% of all differentiated thyroid cancers. Patients with PTMC have an excellent prognosis with a normal fife expectancy. Because of the differential definitions of the PTMC, the therapeutic approaches of the national Scientific Societies have not been standardized. The therapeutic algorithms have to be adjusted with regard to thyroid surgery, radioiodine ablation and thyrotropin-suppressive therapy as well as follow-up. Recently, the Therapy Committee of the European Society of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) has recommended a risk-adapted therapy and follow-up. Risk factors which require a more aggressive therapeutic approach are multifocality, thyroid capsule infiltration, evidence of locoregional or distant metastasis and unfavourable histology. It was the aim of this review to evaluate the current therapeutic concepts in patients with PTMC from a nuclear medicine perspective.