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
Prevalence and Predictors of Incidental Thyroid Carcinoma in Patients With Graves' Disease Undergoing Thyroidectomy.
The prevalence of incidental thyroid cancer (ITC) in Graves' Disease (GD) patients undergoing thyroidectomy appears higher than historically believed, potentially exceeding 10% in large contemporary series, although significant variability exists. The presence of nodules is a strong predictor, while the roles of age, sex, and BMI require clarification. Most ITCs are papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMCs) with generally favorable prognoses, but concerns about aggressiveness persist. The purpose of the present study is to accurately evaluate the prevalence of incidental thyroid carcinoma (ITC), including microcarcinomas, in a prospectively enrolled cohort of patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for Graves' disease, utilizing standardized pathological examination protocols and secondary outcomes including predictors and histopathological characteristics.
I-124 PET/CT Imaging and Dosimetry for RAI-Naïve or Refractory Thyroid Cancer
The objective of this study is to demonstrate the clinical utility of I-124 PET/CT imaging and dosimetry in patients with thyroid cancer including 1) Evaluation of extent (volume and pattern) of remnant tissue in post total thyroidectomy setting and distinction of nodal metastases vs remnant tissue for determination of indication for RAI ablation, 2) Evaluation of response to RAI remnant ablation, 3) Evaluation for suspected occult recurrent/metastatic disease, 4) Evaluation of extent of disease in patients with known metastatic disease and 5) Evaluation of RAI avidity of recurrent/metastatic thyroid cancer and response to treatment with thyroid kinase inhibitors (TKI). Patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancers are studied. Patients who are newly diagnosed, as well as those who have known or suspected to have recurrent or metastatic disease are eligible. Patients receiving TKI treatment are eligible for evaluation prior to and after the treatment. The patients who are considered for TKI/MAPK treatments undergo pre and post treatment with clinically determined oncoprotein/TKR therapeutic agent(s), including multi-TKI, selective BRAF, MEK, PI3K or ERK inhibitors or combination treatments.