5
➤ Completeness of Surgical Resection: The goal of surgery is to
remove safely as much thyroid cancer as possible. To define the
completeness of resection, the AJCC created definitions that are used
in these guidelines to facilitate communications. An R0 resection
means that the surgical margin is microscopically negative for
residual tumor. An R1 resection means that there is no residual
macroscopic tumor, but that microscopically positive margins still
demonstrate the presence of tumor. R2 resection means that gross
(macroscopic) disease remains post-surgery.
131
I, RAI Administration
➤ Remnant ablation: RAI administration to destroy benign remnant
thyroid tissue following total or near-total thyroidectomy.
➤ Adjuvant therapy: RAI administration to destroy suspected (but not
identified) remaining thyroid cancer following total or near-total
thyroidectomy.
➤ Therapeutic treatment: RAI administration to treat known residual
or recurrent thyroid cancer, either initially or with subsequent
progression of thyroid cancer after total or near-total thyroidectomy.
➤ Thyrotropin suppression therapy: Use of thyroid hormone to suppress
serum thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations below the normal range
based on the risk of recurrence and/or response to therapy.
