Accuracy and Clinical Significance of Intraoperative Gross Extrathyroidal Extension (T3b) Assessment in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

In the eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor-node-metastasis staging system, gross extrathyroidal extension (ETE) into the strap muscles is classified as T3b when identified during surgery. In clinical practice, this invasion is primarily assessed intraoperatively by the surgeon and documented in the operative report, forming the basis of the final T3b staging. Because this evaluation is inherently subjective, its diagnostic accuracy remains uncertain. This study evaluated the accuracy of intraoperative gross ETE assessment and whether misclassification affects recurrence outcomes.

Methods

In total, 4987 patients who underwent thyroidectomy at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital during 2017-2022 were analyzed. Patients were categorized by concordance

SUBMITTER: An S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12731079 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature