Xu Y, Huang K, Huang P, et al. - Researchers conducted this retrospective cohort study to assess the benefits and harms of hemithyroidectomy (HT), total thyroidectomy (TT) in 1–4 cm differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). From January 2008 to July 2018, DTC patients aged 18 years or older who had an initial thyroidectomy in a tertiary medical centre were involved. Using Cox proportional regression and logistic regression, the structural persistent/recurrent disease, reoperation rates, and surgical complications were compared. Among 1,824 DTC patients, 795 patients sized 1–4 cm were involved. In total, 286 patients underwent HT and 509 patients underwent TT. HT was associated with a lower risk of surgical complications than TT in patients with 1–4 cm DTC without clinical evidence of lymph node metastasis or extrathyroidal extension while providing equivalent benefits.