Thyrotropin (TSH) and thyroid autoimmunity are predictive factors for the incidental discovery of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma during thyroidectomy.

Purpose: To identify clinical, biological and pathological risk factors for the incidental discovery of papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMCs) in patients undergoing thyroidectomy for presumed benign conditions.

Methods: Cross sectional, single center study, involving all consecutive patients (N = 3015) who were submitted to thyroid surgery between 2001-2019. All medical files were retrospectively reviewed.