Adherence to ATA 2015 guidelines in the management of unifocal non-invasive papillary thyroid cancer: a clinical survey among endocrinologists and surgeons

Background Despite updated guidelines, management of thyroid nodules remains controversial. We aim to check implementation of new guidelines by ear–nose–throat (ENT) surgeons and endocrinologists. Methods A questionnaire was e-mailed including demographic data and an index case: a healthy 26-year-old women with a 3-cm Bethesda III (B3) atypia of undetermined significance solitary nodule and eventually papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Results Respondent rate was 50.5%, 93 endocrinologists, 55 surgeons. For this case, 77.4% would repeat fine-needle aspiration (FNA), 25.3% order molecular analysis and 22.6% do surgery. If repeated FNA remained B3, 51% would choose surgery, 17.3% molecular analysis and 31.6% follow-up only. If repeated FNA was B6, 58.5% would recommend total (TTx) and 41.5% hemithyroidectomy (HTx). In pathologically confirmed PTC after HTx, 42.4% would recommend completion, 26.8% radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment. For a > = 4-cm tumor, 49.2% would recommend TTx. For a tumor 2–4 cm, 41% would recommend TTx. Variables favoring TTx were family history and radiation exposure. Only 17.4% would prefer TTx when small benign contralateral tumor is present. Reassessment at 1 year with undetectable thyroglobulin (Tg) included stimulated Tg (stTg) (72.5%), neck US only (27.5%) and combined US-stTg (59.4%); only 10.3% would order a diagnostic scan. For recurrence in two (13–9 mm) lymph nodes, 59.3% recommend reoperation, 16.3% RAI and 24.4% active surveillance. There were no major differences between endocrinologists and ENT surgeons. Conclusions We report a considerable lack of adherence to new guidelines, with only 50% recommending HTx for a 4-cm unifocal low-risk PTC tumor.