INTRODUCTION: A less extensive thyroidectomy could be used for patients in the low risk group.OBJECTIVE: To perform a critical follow-up after lobectomy with isthmusectomy for the treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma in patients with a single nodule limited to the periphery of the lobe.METHODS: Thirty-one patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma operated on till 1993 were selected. They had undergone lobectomy with isthmusectomy. This is a retrospective cohort study in which the oncological outcome (contralateral and regional recurrence) and the reoperation complications (recurrent nerve paralysis/paresis and hypoparathyroidism) were evaluated. Descriptive analysis was employed.RESULTS: In the last decade (2003-2013), 6 (20%) contralateral recurrences were observed in the remaining lobe and in 1 of these cases (3%), contralateral lymph node metastases were noted. A completion thyroidectomy plus lymphadenectomy was performed, without modification of global survival.CONCLUSION: Because of the rate of 20% of contralateral recurrence after a 20-year follow-up, we suggest modification of the surgical paradigm for total thyroidectomy as an initial therapy.