Controversies in Thyroid Pathology: Thyroid Capsule Invasion and Extrathyroidal Extension

Abstract

Introduction and Design. Endocrine pathologists, surgeons, and oncologists who manage patients with thyroid carcinomas confront many critical dilemmas. Controversies surrounding diagnostic criteria that distinguish benign from malignant thyroid follicular lesions have been brought to the attention of this community. In this article, we confront another controversy, the definition of a thyroid "capsule'' to clarify what constitutes extrathyroidal extension (ETE) and its clinical significance in the management of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinomas.