Immediate Surgery Might Be a Better Option for Subcapsular Thyroid Microcarcinomas

Figure 1

(a) Schematic of different locations (asterisks) of thyroid microcarcinomas in the thyroid lobe. Subcapsular thyroid microcarcinomas (arrow) can be located (b) anterior to the strap muscles, (c) lateral to the carotid artery, and (d) posterior or (e) medial to the trachea in the lobe. Nonsubcapsular thyroid microcarcinomas are located in the middle of the lobe at a certain distance from the thyroid capsule. CA, carotid artery; IJV, internal jugular vein.

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