Follicular Adenoma and Carcinoma of the Thyroid Gland

Follicular neoplasms of the thyroid gland include benign follicular adenoma and follicular carcinoma. Currently, a follicular carcinoma cannot be distinguished from a follicular adenoma based on cytologic, sonographic, or clinical features alone. As a result, all patients with a follicular neoplasm should, at minimum, undergo a diagnostic thyroid lobectomy and isthmusectomy. A completion thyroidectomy is necessary for invasive follicular carcinoma. The overall ten-year survival for patients with minimally invasive follicular carcinoma is 98% compared with 80% in patients with invasive follicular carcinoma