Advancements in Thyroid Cancer Management

A special issue of Current Oncology (ISSN 1718-7729). This special issue belongs to the section "Head and Neck Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2025) | Viewed by 6617

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Unit of Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, Pisa University Hospital, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Interests: thyroid cancer; active surveillance; targeted therapy; lymph node dissection; surgical treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Thyroid cancer has witnessed a notable increase in incidence over recent decades, prompting a continuous evolution in diagnostic modalities and therapeutic strategies. While surgical interventions have long been the cornerstone of thyroid cancer management, the landscape of treatment has expanded significantly to encompass medical therapies, radioiodine ablation, and targeted therapies. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements across the spectrum of thyroid cancer treatment. By bringing together the expertise of leading researchers and clinicians in the field, this Special Issue will serve as a valuable resource for anyone involved in the care of patients with thyroid cancer.

We invite original research articles, review articles, and meta-analyses that address the following key areas:

  • Surgical advancements: The evolution of surgical techniques, driven by technological advancements and a deeper understanding of the disease, has significantly improved patient outcomes. Contributions exploring minimally invasive and remote-access surgery, nodal management, and the management of advanced disease are encouraged.
  • Medical therapies: the role of medical therapies, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors and other targeted agents, is of great interest in the management of thyroid cancer, both as adjuvant and first-line treatments.
  • Emerging technologies: The field of thyroid cancer treatment is continually evolving. Contributions exploring emerging technologies, such as US-guided ablation, and their potential applications in thyroid cancer are welcome.
  • Quality of life and patient-reported outcomes: The impact of treatment on patients' quality of life is a critical consideration. Studies investigating the long-term functional outcomes, cosmetic results, and patient satisfaction following thyroid cancer treatment are encouraged. Moreover, we reserve special attention to active surveillance.

Dr. Leonardo Rossi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Current Oncology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • thyroid cancer
  • active surveillance
  • targeted therapy
  • lymph node dissection
  • thyroid nodule ablation
  • remote-access thyroidectomy
  • minimally invasive thyroidectomy
  • medullary thyroid carcinoma
  • anaplastic thyroid carcinoma

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research

5 pages, 455 KB  
Editorial
New Trends in Thyroid Malignancy: Minimally Invasive Thermal Ablation Percutaneous Techniques for T1 Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas
by Pierre Yves Marcy
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(8), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32080442 - 7 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1961
Abstract
During the late 1990s, thyroid nodule management strongly improved with the development of high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) and US-guided percutaneous procedures [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Thyroid Cancer Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Research

Jump to: Editorial

15 pages, 1943 KB  
Article
Combined Ultrasound and MRI Assessment in Patients Undergoing Reoperation for Recurrent Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Oncological Outcomes and Surgical Safety
by Zimei Tang, Jie Liu, Rong Wang, Gang Tian, Anwen Ren, Jiexiao Li, Yiran Wang, Wen Yang, Peng Sun, Tao Huang, Ximeng Zhang and Jie Ming
Curr. Oncol. 2026, 33(2), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol33020098 - 4 Feb 2026
Viewed by 562
Abstract
Reoperation for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) requires precise lymph node metastasis assessment, yet ultrasound (US) alone may be insufficient in complex or high-risk cases. This study evaluated whether supplementing US with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) improves surgical guidance and outcomes in reoperation. We [...] Read more.
Reoperation for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) requires precise lymph node metastasis assessment, yet ultrasound (US) alone may be insufficient in complex or high-risk cases. This study evaluated whether supplementing US with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) improves surgical guidance and outcomes in reoperation. We retrospectively analyzed 375 patients who underwent reoperation between 2014 and 2022. Propensity score matching yielded 101 patients in the USUS-only group and 62 in the US+MRI group. Pathological and imaging data were compared to assess diagnostic performance, surgical outcomes, biochemical responses, and recurrence-free survival. The combined approach significantly increased sensitivity for detecting central lymph node metastasis from 52.5% to 90.9% and resulted in higher rates of central neck dissections (65.1% versus 45.5%) with greater lymph node yield (median: 29 versus 20) but lower lymph node ratios. More patients in the combined group achieved excellent biochemical responses (50.0% versus 27.7%). While overall recurrence-free survival (RFS) was not significantly different, the US+MRI group showed improved RFS among patients with ≥2 positive central nodes (HR = 0.24, p = 0.032). Importantly, complication rates were comparable, suggesting that improved outcomes were achieved without added surgical risk. Combined US and MRI assessment enhances diagnostic performance and may improve surgical and oncological outcomes in select high-risk patients undergoing PTC reoperation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Thyroid Cancer Management)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 1864 KB  
Article
Evolving Practices in Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer: Impact of the 2015 ATA Guidelines
by Benard Gjeloshi, Leonardo Rossi, Carlo Enrico Ambrosini, Chiara Becucci, Piermarco Papini, Andrea De Palma, Luigi De Napoli, Marco Puccini and Gabriele Materazzi
Curr. Oncol. 2026, 33(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol33010026 - 2 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1211
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The extent of initial surgical resection for low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains debated. Traditionally, total thyroidectomy (TT) has been the standard approach, although the 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines endorsed a more conservative strategy. The real-world adoption of these [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The extent of initial surgical resection for low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains debated. Traditionally, total thyroidectomy (TT) has been the standard approach, although the 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines endorsed a more conservative strategy. The real-world adoption of these recommendations, however, is unclear. This study evaluated changes in the surgical management of low-risk PTC in a high-volume center following the implementation of the ATA guidelines and analyzed the impact on postoperative outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 1644 patients who underwent surgery for localized low-risk PTC < 4 cm between 2014 and 2023. Temporal trends in the initial surgical procedure (TT vs. thyroid lobectomy [TL]) were analyzed overall and by tumor size and patient demographics. The need for completion thyroidectomy after TL and postoperative outcomes were also assessed. Results: The use of TL increased from 0% in 2014 to 59.4% in 2023 (p < 0.001). For microcarcinomas, TL rose from 17.5% in 2016 to 78% in 2023, with similar but less pronounced trends for 1–2 cm tumors. TT remained predominant for nodules > 2 cm. The completion thyroidectomy rate declined from 32% in 2016 to 4% in 2022. Patients undergoing TT experienced higher rates of postoperative complications (12.4% vs. 3.0%), particularly transient hypoparathyroidism (8.9% vs. 0%), and permanent hypoparathyroidism (1.8% vs. 0%), as well as longer operative time and hospital stay (all p < 0.001). The incidence of hypoparathyroidism decreased over time as TL use increased. Conclusions: Adoption of the 2015 ATA guidelines has progressively increased the use of TL in the management of low-risk PTC. This shift in surgical practice is associated with a reduction in the overall postoperative complication burden at the population level, largely driven by decreased hypoparathyroidism. Although guideline uptake has been gradual, current trends suggest increasing acceptance of less aggressive surgical strategies in routine clinical practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Thyroid Cancer Management)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

20 pages, 263 KB  
Article
Factors Associated with Sleep Disruption and Fatigue in Thyroid Cancer Survivors
by Domenic DiSanti, Abbey Fingeret, Makayla Schissel, Christopher Wichman, Hannah Coldiron, Oleg Shats, Su Chen and Whitney Goldner
Curr. Oncol. 2026, 33(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol33010001 - 19 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1277
Abstract
Thyroid cancer survivors often experience worse quality of life than other cancer survivors, with fatigue and sleep disturbance being common contributors. In this prospective cohort from the ICaRe2 cancer registry, survivors completed the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) [...] Read more.
Thyroid cancer survivors often experience worse quality of life than other cancer survivors, with fatigue and sleep disturbance being common contributors. In this prospective cohort from the ICaRe2 cancer registry, survivors completed the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at enrollment and follow-up, with univariate and multivariable analyses identifying factors associated with fatigue and sleep quality. Among 249 survivors (83% female, median age 42), 205 completed the BFI and 224 the PSQI. Most were low (57%) or intermediate (34%) risk or recurrence at diagnosis, and 74% had no structural recurrence. Poor sleep and greater fatigue were significantly associated with female sex (p = 0.0003 and 0.001), younger age at diagnosis (p = 0.02 and 0.0006), and vocal cord paralysis (p = 0.01 and 0.046). Fatigue was also higher in those with hypoparathyroidism (p = 0.04). No associations were found with recurrence risk, therapy response, thyroid hormone type, or TSH levels. Younger female survivors, particularly those with vocal cord paralysis or hypoparathyroidism, are more prone to fatigue and poor sleep, highlighting potential targets for interventions to improve quality of life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Thyroid Cancer Management)
16 pages, 4545 KB  
Article
Cytotoxic Effects of Sorafenib, Lapatinib, and Bevacizumab, Alone and in Combination, on Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Cells
by Gülşah Altun and Özlem Yönem
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(11), 607; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32110607 - 31 Oct 2025
Viewed by 689
Abstract
Background: Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor with limited therapeutic options, as current kinase inhibitors are often associated with significant toxicity and drug resistance. This study aimed to explore novel treatment strategies by testing targeted agents alone and in combination. Methods: [...] Read more.
Background: Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor with limited therapeutic options, as current kinase inhibitors are often associated with significant toxicity and drug resistance. This study aimed to explore novel treatment strategies by testing targeted agents alone and in combination. Methods: Human medullary thyroid carcinoma TT cells with RET mutations were treated with Sorafenib, Lapatinib, and Bevacizumab. Cell proliferation was monitored in real time using the xCELLigence system, and apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. Results: Sorafenib and Lapatinib each showed strong, dose-dependent cytotoxic effects, with Lapatinib demonstrating the greatest potency. Bevacizumab alone exhibited minimal cytotoxic activity, but when combined with Sorafenib or Lapatinib it significantly enhanced their effects, even at concentrations that were only partially effective individually. The Lapatinib–Bevacizumab combination produced the most potent inhibition of cell viability, comparable to high-dose monotherapy. Conclusions: These findings suggest that combining kinase inhibitors with Bevacizumab may enhance antitumor activity, allow the use of lower drug doses, and overcome resistance, representing a promising therapeutic strategy for medullary thyroid carcinoma that warrants further investigation in clinical settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Thyroid Cancer Management)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop