No knife needed? study tests watching tiny thyroid tumors
NCT ID NCT02609685
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study follows 216 people with very small papillary thyroid cancers (1.5 cm or smaller) to see what happens when they choose active surveillance—regular checkups instead of immediate surgery. The goal is to learn how often these cancers grow and whether observation is a safe alternative to standard treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that active surveillance is a safe option for many patients with small thyroid cancers, reducing unnecessary surgeries.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not testing a new treatment. It may not change current practice, and some patients may still need surgery if the cancer grows.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 216 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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May 2016
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2030
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Pathologically confirmed Bethesda V or VI thyroid nodules with papillary thyroid carcinoma or high clinical suspicion, or pathologically confirmed Bethesda III or IV nodules with BRAF mutation. * 2.0 cm or smaller nodules by ultrasonographic criteria * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent and HIPAA Authorization form * Must be able to read and write English fluently to participate in the questionnaire portion of the study Exclusion Criteria: * High-grade or poorly differentiated PTC variants * Central or lateral neck lymphadenopathy suspicious for PTC * Unfavorable nodule location (e.g. Near dorsal surface (by recurrent laryngeal nerve); Adjacent to trachea (risk of cartilage invasion) * History of radiation to neck
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Get notified about this study
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The study's own enquiry address
This study publishes an address for enquiries. See it below .
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Study contacts
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Contact
Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
RECRUITINGLos Angeles, California, 90048, United States
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