Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC) make up >95% of all thyroid cancers diagnosed annually (Ross et al., Thyroid 26(10):1343–1421, 2016). DTC are further classified as papillary, follicular, and Hürthle cell carcinomas. These cancers generally have good survival, and overall prognosis depends on stage and patient age. Treatment ranges from surveillance to thyroid lobectomy to total thyroidectomy with or without lymphadenectomy. Decisions about treatment and surveillance require a multidisciplinary approach with close collaboration between the physician and the patient.