Ma JM, Wu LF, Hu JS, et al. - Researchers studied all first-time thyroid surgery patients between January 2005 and December 2016 of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University in order to determine the surgical risk and prognosis between thyroid nodules of size < 1 and ≥ 1 cm. Further, they examined whether the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules and thyroid carcinoma < 1 cm in wide areas of China could be ignored. They reviewed a total of 6,317 patients; of these, 3,424 (54.20%) were malignant. Outcomes supported the safety of performing thyroid operations and the involvement of fewer postoperative complications when thyroid nodules were < 1 cm and superior prognoses of patients who were diagnosed with malignant thyroid disease. Early diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules < 1 cm should be undertaken in underdeveloped regions of China.