"Cancer" Should be Removed from Certain Thyroid Tumor's Name, Experts Say

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MS

Noninvasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma — which accounts for up to 20% of thyroid cancers diagnosed in North America and Europe — should be renamed as "noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features," an international panel of experts said on Thursday.

The group notes that such neoplasms carry a very low risk for adverse outcomes. Their statement and supporting research appear in JAMA Oncology.

An editorialist writes: "The reclassification ... is a timely and appropriate change. It highlights the true biologic nature of this tumor, lessens the emotional and psychological burden associated with the term cancer, and results in increased cost savings by potentially decreasing overtreatment that exposes patients to unnecessary risks."