A multicenter cohort study of thyroidectomy-related decision regret in patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

Abstract The level of thyroidectomy-related regret in patients with clinically low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and the determinants of decision regret are largely unknown. Here, we show that 319 (24.2%) of those who undergo thyroidectomy and 4 (3.4%) who undergo active surveillance...

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Main Authors: Genpeng Li, Ruicen Li, Jinjing Zhong, Wenjie Chen, Jinhao Shuai, Meizhu Chen, Feng Deng, Tao Wei, Huairong Tang, Zhihui Li, Jianyong Lei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57627-7
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author Genpeng Li
Ruicen Li
Jinjing Zhong
Wenjie Chen
Jinhao Shuai
Meizhu Chen
Feng Deng
Tao Wei
Huairong Tang
Zhihui Li
Jianyong Lei
author_facet Genpeng Li
Ruicen Li
Jinjing Zhong
Wenjie Chen
Jinhao Shuai
Meizhu Chen
Feng Deng
Tao Wei
Huairong Tang
Zhihui Li
Jianyong Lei
author_sort Genpeng Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The level of thyroidectomy-related regret in patients with clinically low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and the determinants of decision regret are largely unknown. Here, we show that 319 (24.2%) of those who undergo thyroidectomy and 4 (3.4%) who undergo active surveillance (AS) express heightened regret based on validated decision regret scale (DRS) scores in the first online survey (P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis and the second online survey for patients with heightened regret confirm that postoperative lower thyroid cancer-specific quality of life (QoL) (scar and psychology) (75.5%) is the most common factor for heightened regret of thyroidectomy, followed by preoperative understanding of disease [not at all] (15.0%), presentation of complications (3.8%) and other factors (5.7%). These results highlight that more caution should be exercised when low-risk PTMC patients are scheduled for thyroidectomy. Information about the various treatments for clinically low-risk PTMC, the risk of thyroidectomy and postoperative QoL should be fully communicated during initial counseling.
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spelling doaj-art-8e04eb900e5645c8bdaa09d2c297975e2025-08-20T02:59:54ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-03-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-57627-7A multicenter cohort study of thyroidectomy-related decision regret in patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinomaGenpeng Li0Ruicen Li1Jinjing Zhong2Wenjie Chen3Jinhao Shuai4Meizhu Chen5Feng Deng6Tao Wei7Huairong Tang8Zhihui Li9Jianyong Lei10Division of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityHealth and Management Center, General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Pathology, West China Hospital of Sichuan UniversityDivision of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Meishan City People’s HospitalDepartment of General Surgery, Sanya People’s HospitalDepartment of Stomach/Thyroid/Blood Vessel Surgery, Chongqing University Three Gorges HospitalDivision of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityHealth and Management Center, General Practice Medical Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDivision of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDivision of Thyroid Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityAbstract The level of thyroidectomy-related regret in patients with clinically low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and the determinants of decision regret are largely unknown. Here, we show that 319 (24.2%) of those who undergo thyroidectomy and 4 (3.4%) who undergo active surveillance (AS) express heightened regret based on validated decision regret scale (DRS) scores in the first online survey (P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis and the second online survey for patients with heightened regret confirm that postoperative lower thyroid cancer-specific quality of life (QoL) (scar and psychology) (75.5%) is the most common factor for heightened regret of thyroidectomy, followed by preoperative understanding of disease [not at all] (15.0%), presentation of complications (3.8%) and other factors (5.7%). These results highlight that more caution should be exercised when low-risk PTMC patients are scheduled for thyroidectomy. Information about the various treatments for clinically low-risk PTMC, the risk of thyroidectomy and postoperative QoL should be fully communicated during initial counseling.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57627-7
spellingShingle Genpeng Li
Ruicen Li
Jinjing Zhong
Wenjie Chen
Jinhao Shuai
Meizhu Chen
Feng Deng
Tao Wei
Huairong Tang
Zhihui Li
Jianyong Lei
A multicenter cohort study of thyroidectomy-related decision regret in patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
Nature Communications
title A multicenter cohort study of thyroidectomy-related decision regret in patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
title_full A multicenter cohort study of thyroidectomy-related decision regret in patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
title_fullStr A multicenter cohort study of thyroidectomy-related decision regret in patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
title_full_unstemmed A multicenter cohort study of thyroidectomy-related decision regret in patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
title_short A multicenter cohort study of thyroidectomy-related decision regret in patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
title_sort multicenter cohort study of thyroidectomy related decision regret in patients with low risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57627-7
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