Table 2.

Indication for Immediate Surgery in Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma Without Active Surveillance

1. Presence of clinical lymph node metastasis or distant metastasis (rare)

2. Clinically apparent invasion into the RLN or trachea

3. Diagnosis of aggressive subtype of papillary thyroid carcinoma on cytology (rare)

4. Tumors adherent to the trachea, possibly invading

5. Tumors located along the course of the RLN

6. Associated with other thyroid or parathyroid disease requiring surgery

7. Age <20 years (no current evidence)

RLN, recurrent laryngeal nerve.