In patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), initial recurrence risk stratification based on clinical, histopathological, and perioperative data remains the key determinant for guiding management strategies during the first 1-2 years post-treatment. However, the adoption of ongoing risk stratification (ORS), which dynamically reassesses risk by integrating longitudinal clinical data and treatment response, enables more precise long-term prognostic assessment and facilitates highly individualized management. Building upon recent guidelines, the 2026 KTA guideline has been further refined by incorporating robust evidence from large-scale national cohorts and comprehensive systematic reviews. These updated recommendations outline contemporary concepts of ORS, risk-adapted TSH suppression targets, optimized surveillance modalities for recurrence detection, and disease-specific long-term follow-up strategies. Reflecting the paradigm shift toward de-escalated treatment, this revision integrates evolved perspectives on TSH suppression intensity, the clinical interpretation of thyroglobulin levels, and tailored follow-up intervals. These evidence-based recommendations aim to minimize unnecessary treatment and excessive surveillance in the large proportion of patients with excellent prognosis after initial therapy, while ensuring that each patient receives appropriately tailored and effective long-term management.

Purpose: This study investigated the use of synthetic computed tomography (CT) images derived from cone beam CT (CBCT) scans to analyze dose changes in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment and to evaluate the optimal timing for implementing adaptive radiotherapy. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on five breast cancer patients treated with tomotherapy-based volumetric-modulated arc therapy at Yongin Severance Hospital. Each patient received 15 fractions, with doses of 320 centigray (cGy) to the high-dose planning target volume (PTV) and 267 cGy to the low-dose PTV. Planning CT images were acquired using the Aquilion scanner, andCBCT images were captured with the VersaHD linear accelerator’s on-board imager. These imageswere registered in RayStation using a hybrid deformable image registration method to generate synthetic CT images. Dose distributions were reanalyzed using the synthetic CT images, and dose-volume histogram parameters, including the dose to 95% of the volume (D95 ) and mean dose (Dmean ) for the PTV, as well as D95 , Dmean , the percentage of the volume receiving at least 5 Gy (V5 ) and 10 Gy (V10 )for organs-at-risk (OARs), were extracted using MATLAB to assess dose changes during treatment. Results: For the original plans, the mean D95 for PTV high across all patients was 287.13±31.32cGy, while for PTV low, it was 245.53±6.21 cGy. In contrast, the adaptive plans yielded a mean D95of 298.17±12.37 cGy for PTV High and 247.25±4.23 cGy for PTV low. The ART Plan may lead to increased dose exposure in certain structures, such as the spinal cord, while providing targeted improvements in reducing radiation exposure in specific OARs (e.g., contralateral breast and esophagus). Conclusions Synthetic CT images generated from CBCT scans provide a fast and efficient means of quantifying dose changes, supporting precise patient care through interfractional evaluation.Future studies will aim to apply this method to other organs and larger patient cohorts.

Differentiated thyroid cancer demonstrates a wide range of clinical presentations, from very indolent cases to those with an aggressive prognosis. Therefore, diagnosing and treating each cancer appropriately based on its risk status is important. The Korean Thyroid Association (KTA) has provided and amended the clinical guidelines for thyroid cancer management since 2007. The main changes in this revised 2024 guideline include 1) individualization of surgical extent according to pathological tests and clinical findings, 2) application of active surveillance in low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, 3) indications for minimally invasive surgery, 4) adoption of World Health Organization pathological diagnostic criteria and definition of terminology in Korean, 5) update on literature evidence of recurrence risk for initial risk stratification, 6) addition of the role of molecular testing, 7) addition of definition of initial risk stratification and targeting thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations according to ongoing risk stratification (ORS), 8) addition of treatment of perioperative hypoparathyroidism, 9) update on systemic chemotherapy, and 10) addition of treatment for pediatric patients with thyroid cancer.

Background: A healthcare system’s collapse due to a pandemic, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), can expose healthcare workers (HCWs) to various mental health problems. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the depression and anxiety of HCWs. Methods: A nationwide questionnaire-based survey was conducted on HCWs who worked in healthcare facilities and public health centers in Korea in December 2020. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) were used to measure depression and anxiety. To investigate factors associated with depression and anxiety, stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: A total of 1,425 participating HCWs were included. The mean depression score (PHQ-9) of HCWs before and after COVID-19 increased from 2.37 to 5.39, and the mean anxiety score (GAD-7) increased from 1.41 to 3.41. The proportion of HCWs with moderate to severe depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) increased from 3.8% before COVID-19 to 19.5% after COVID-19, whereas that of HCWs with moderate to severe anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10) increased from 2.0% to 10.1%. In our study, insomnia, chronic fatigue symptoms and physical symptoms after COVID-19, anxiety score (GAD-7) after COVID-19, living alone, and exhaustion were positively correlated with depression. Furthermore, post-traumatic stress symptoms, stress score (Global Assessment of Recent Stress), depression score (PHQ-9) after COVID-19, and exhaustion were positively correlated with anxiety. Conclusion In Korea, during the COVID-19 pandemic, HCWs commonly suffered from mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. Regularly checking the physical and mental health problems of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial, and social support and strategy are needed to reduce the heavy workload and psychological distress of HCWs.

Purpose: This study investigated the use of synthetic computed tomography (CT) images derived from cone beam CT (CBCT) scans to analyze dose changes in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment and to evaluate the optimal timing for implementing adaptive radiotherapy. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on five breast cancer patients treated with tomotherapy-based volumetric-modulated arc therapy at Yongin Severance Hospital. Each patient received 15 fractions, with doses of 320 centigray (cGy) to the high-dose planning target volume (PTV) and 267 cGy to the low-dose PTV. Planning CT images were acquired using the Aquilion scanner, andCBCT images were captured with the VersaHD linear accelerator’s on-board imager. These imageswere registered in RayStation using a hybrid deformable image registration method to generate synthetic CT images. Dose distributions were reanalyzed using the synthetic CT images, and dose-volume histogram parameters, including the dose to 95% of the volume (D95 ) and mean dose (Dmean ) for the PTV, as well as D95 , Dmean , the percentage of the volume receiving at least 5 Gy (V5 ) and 10 Gy (V10 )for organs-at-risk (OARs), were extracted using MATLAB to assess dose changes during treatment. Results: For the original plans, the mean D95 for PTV high across all patients was 287.13±31.32cGy, while for PTV low, it was 245.53±6.21 cGy. In contrast, the adaptive plans yielded a mean D95of 298.17±12.37 cGy for PTV High and 247.25±4.23 cGy for PTV low. The ART Plan may lead to increased dose exposure in certain structures, such as the spinal cord, while providing targeted improvements in reducing radiation exposure in specific OARs (e.g., contralateral breast and esophagus). Conclusions Synthetic CT images generated from CBCT scans provide a fast and efficient means of quantifying dose changes, supporting precise patient care through interfractional evaluation.Future studies will aim to apply this method to other organs and larger patient cohorts.