Purpose of review: The purpose of this review is to present an overview regarding the renaming of encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer as 'noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features'.
Recent findings: A recent retrospective study has shown the excellent clinical outcomes of noninvasive encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer, for which the diagnosis is based on a thorough examination of all tumor tissue and its capsule to exclude any vascular or capsular invasion. Given the extremely low malignant potential of this entity, the term cancer was eliminated from its name, as this tumor requires less aggressive follow-up and treatment.
Summary: The low-risk tumor was previously treated conservatively prior to its renaming. However, elimination of the term cancer from its name may decrease the psychological and social consequences of its diagnosis.