Surgical Treatment of Local Recurrence in Thyroid Cancer / 대한갑상선학회지

ABSTRACT

The diagnosis and treatment of recurrent or persistent thyroid cancer can pose significant clinical dilemmas. The tumor generally has a relatively indolent biology; however, recurrent or persistent disease is not uncommon, although tumor-specific mortality is infrequent. Treatment options include 131I, surgical resection, and ethanol or radiofrequency ablation. Neck recurrences are common in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Surgical removal decreases the need for additional therapy and can minimize complications from local recurrence. Therefore, any patient with a local recurrence should be offered surgical resection. Since reoperations in the central neck can be difficult, it is essential that a surgeon have accurate preoperative imaging and extensive experience in thyroid surgery.