What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 114 patients with thyroid cancer. The study was sponsored by University of Michigan and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
Researchers followed patients through treatment and into recovery, tracking the outcomes that mattered most for the disease being studied.
What the results showed
The light tool helped surgeons find 3.3 parathyroid glands on average compared to 2.8 with standard surgery.
JAMA surgery · 2025 · NCT05022667
These findings — that light technology helped surgeons identify more parathyroid glands during thyroid removal — were published in the JAMA surgery and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 114 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with thyroid cancer, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
This was a large-scale test of a surgical tool still being studied. The technology isn't yet standard practice. If you're having thyroid surgery, ask your surgeon about their experience protecting your parathyroid glands and what methods they use to identify them during the procedure.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open thyroid cancer trials
Response to Neoadjuvant Treatment in Locally Advanced Thyroid Cancer
This multicenter observational study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy in patients with locally advanced thyroid cancer, focusing on imaging, biochemical, and pathological responses, as well as short-term surgical outcomes and long-term prognosis.
A Novel Ultrasound Probe for Thyroid Imaging and Machine Learning
The objective of the THYMAL 01 pilot study is to evaluate the Sound Blade Imaging System in subjects with benign thyroid nodules undergoing standard-of-care ultrasound imaging.