Thyroid cancer has become one of the most common malignant tumors of the endocrine system worldwide [1]. Among its subtypes, papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) accounts for approximately 80% of all cases [2]. According to the World Health Organization classification, PTC with a maximum diameter ≤10 mm is defined as papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), which exhibits distinct clinical and biological characteristics [3]. Although most PTMCs progress slowly with a 5-year disease-specific surviva…