{"title":"A decade of active surveillance for low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma in Argentina: persistent challenges in acceptance and discontinuation rates.","authors":"Anabella Smulever, Fabián Pitoia","doi":"10.1007/s12020-025-04296-7","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Active surveillance (AS) for low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has been practiced for over 30 years with encouraging results globally. However, its adoption remains limited in certain contexts. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term oncological outcomes of patients undergoing AS and compare changes in the acceptance and discontinuation rates in Argentina over the past decade.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This prospective, observational cohort study (2014-2024) included 358 patients diagnosed with low-risk PTC measuring ≤1.5 cm across two university hospitals. Of these, 104 patients (29%) opted for AS and were followed up with thyroid ultrasounds and function tests annually for at least 24 months. Surgery was recommended for tumors showing a ≥3 mm increase in size, newly detected foci, or metastatic involvement. Outcomes were analyzed in two distinct phases: 2014-2019 (A) and 2020-2024 (B).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 104 patients under AS, 10.6% developed tumor growth of ≥3 mm, and 7.6% developed new PTC foci. The 5- and 10-year cumulative incidence of tumor growth was 7 and 8%, respectively. Lymph node metastases occurred in 0.9%. AS acceptance rates remained stable between Phase A (25%) and Phase B (30%) (p = 0.82). AS discontinuation rates were also similar: 19.5% in A and 12.6% in B (p = 0.63). Among patients discontinuing AS due to tumor progression, 31% underwent surgery. Anxiety was the main reason for surgery in 66% of cases in Phase A and 40% in Phase B. Lobectomies increased from 1.5% (A) to 9% (B, p = 0.8). No evidence of disease was achieved in 84% of cases at the end of follow-up.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite persistently low acceptance and adherence to AS, the long-term outcomes observed in this prospective study reinforce this approach as a feasible initial management option for low-risk PTC. These findings underscore the need for further efforts to improve the acceptance of AS among eligible patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":49211,"journal":{"name":"Endocrine","volume":" ","pages":"497-507"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Endocrine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-025-04296-7","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/5/27 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Active surveillance (AS) for low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has been practiced for over 30 years with encouraging results globally. However, its adoption remains limited in certain contexts. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term oncological outcomes of patients undergoing AS and compare changes in the acceptance and discontinuation rates in Argentina over the past decade.
Methods: This prospective, observational cohort study (2014-2024) included 358 patients diagnosed with low-risk PTC measuring ≤1.5 cm across two university hospitals. Of these, 104 patients (29%) opted for AS and were followed up with thyroid ultrasounds and function tests annually for at least 24 months. Surgery was recommended for tumors showing a ≥3 mm increase in size, newly detected foci, or metastatic involvement. Outcomes were analyzed in two distinct phases: 2014-2019 (A) and 2020-2024 (B).
Results: Of the 104 patients under AS, 10.6% developed tumor growth of ≥3 mm, and 7.6% developed new PTC foci. The 5- and 10-year cumulative incidence of tumor growth was 7 and 8%, respectively. Lymph node metastases occurred in 0.9%. AS acceptance rates remained stable between Phase A (25%) and Phase B (30%) (p = 0.82). AS discontinuation rates were also similar: 19.5% in A and 12.6% in B (p = 0.63). Among patients discontinuing AS due to tumor progression, 31% underwent surgery. Anxiety was the main reason for surgery in 66% of cases in Phase A and 40% in Phase B. Lobectomies increased from 1.5% (A) to 9% (B, p = 0.8). No evidence of disease was achieved in 84% of cases at the end of follow-up.
Conclusions: Despite persistently low acceptance and adherence to AS, the long-term outcomes observed in this prospective study reinforce this approach as a feasible initial management option for low-risk PTC. These findings underscore the need for further efforts to improve the acceptance of AS among eligible patients.
期刊介绍:
Well-established as a major journal in today’s rapidly advancing experimental and clinical research areas, Endocrine publishes original articles devoted to basic (including molecular, cellular and physiological studies), translational and clinical research in all the different fields of endocrinology and metabolism. Articles will be accepted based on peer-reviews, priority, and editorial decision. Invited reviews, mini-reviews and viewpoints on relevant pathophysiological and clinical topics, as well as Editorials on articles appearing in the Journal, are published. Unsolicited Editorials will be evaluated by the editorial team. Outcomes of scientific meetings, as well as guidelines and position statements, may be submitted. The Journal also considers special feature articles in the field of endocrine genetics and epigenetics, as well as articles devoted to novel methods and techniques in endocrinology.
Endocrine covers controversial, clinical endocrine issues. Meta-analyses on endocrine and metabolic topics are also accepted. Descriptions of single clinical cases and/or small patients studies are not published unless of exceptional interest. However, reports of novel imaging studies and endocrine side effects in single patients may be considered. Research letters and letters to the editor related or unrelated to recently published articles can be submitted.
Endocrine covers leading topics in endocrinology such as neuroendocrinology, pituitary and hypothalamic peptides, thyroid physiological and clinical aspects, bone and mineral metabolism and osteoporosis, obesity, lipid and energy metabolism and food intake control, insulin, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, hormones of male and female reproduction, adrenal diseases pediatric and geriatric endocrinology, endocrine hypertension and endocrine oncology.