Oncologists' responsibility, comfort, and knowledge managing hyperglycemia in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy: a cross sectional study.

PURPOSE: To assess oncologists' responsibility, comfort, and knowledge managing hyperglycemia in patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire collected oncologists' perceptions about professionals responsible for managing hyperglycemia during chemotherapy; comfort (score range 12-120); and knowledge (score range 0-16). Descriptive statistics were calculated including Student t-tests and one-way ANOVA for mean score differences. Multivariable linear regression identified predictors of comfort and knowledge scores. RESULTS: Respondents (N = 229) were 67.7% men, 91.3% White and mean age 52.1 years. Oncologists perceived endocrinologists/diabetologists and primary care physicians as those responsible for managing hyperglycemia during chemotherapy, and most frequently referred to these clinicians. Reasons for referral included lack of time to manage hyperglycemia (62.4%), belief that patients would benefit from referral to an alternative provider clinician (54.1%), and not perceiving hyperglycemia management in their scope of practice (52.4%). The top-3 barriers to patient referral were long wait times for primary care (69.9%) and endocrinology (68.1%) visits, and patient's provider outside of the oncologist's institution (52.8%). The top-3 barriers to treating hyperglycemia were lack of knowledge about when to start insulin, how to adjust insulin, and what insulin type works best. Women (ß = 1.67, 95% CI: 0.16, 3.18) and oncologists in suburban areas (ß = 6.98, 95% CI: 2.53, 11.44) had higher comfort scores than their respective counterparts; oncologists working in practices with > 10 oncologists had lower comfort scores (ß = -2.75, 95% CI: -4.96, -0.53) than those in practices with ≤ 10. No significant predictors were identified for knowledge. CONCLUSION: Oncologists expected endocrinology or primary care clinicians to manage hyperglycemia during chemotherapy, but long wait times were among the top barriers cited when referring patients. New models that provide prompt and coordinated care are needed.

Salvage Cryoablation for Local Recurrences of Thyroid Cancer Inseparable from the Trachea and Neurovascular Structures.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate safety, feasibility, and effectiveness of cryoablation of recurrent papillary thyroid cancer ineligible for reoperation because of scarring, eligible for focal ablation as defined within 2015 American Thyroid Association guideline sections C16 and C17. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With multidisciplinary consensus, cryoablation was performed with curative intent for 15 tumors in 10 patients between January 2019 and July 2021. Demographics, procedural details, and serial postprocedural imaging findings were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age was 72.5 years (range, 57-88 years), and 80% of the patients were women. The tumors (mean size, 16 mm ± 6; range, 9-29 mm) received 1 session of cryoablation with 100% technical success. The mean and median postcryoablation tumor volumetric involution rates were 88% and 99%, respectively, with 9 (60%) of 15 tumors involuting completely or down to the scar and 6 (40%) involuting partially at the end of the study period. Tumor size did not increase after cryoablation (0% local progression rate). All tumors abutted the trachea, skin, and/or vascular structures, and hydrodissection failed in all cases because of scarring. The major adverse event rate was 20% (3/15), with 2 cases of voice change and 1 case of Horner syndrome; all resolved at 6 months with no permanent sequelae. No vascular, tracheal, dermal, or infectious adverse events occurred during a mean follow-up of 242 days (range, 114-627 days). One patient died at 386 days after cryoablation because of unrelated cholangiocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Cryoablation of local recurrences of papillary thyroid cancer abutting the trachea and/or neurovascular structures in the setting of hydrodissection failure because of scarring yielded a mean volumetric involution of 88%, primary efficacy of 60%, and objective response rate of 100% with no local recurrences or permanent complications during a mean follow-up of 242 days. The secondary efficacy and longer-term outcomes remain forthcoming.

Towards De-Implementation of low-value thyroid care in older adults.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review discusses the current literature regarding low-value thyroid care in older adults, summarizing recent findings pertaining to screening for thyroid dysfunction and management of hypothyroidism, thyroid nodules and low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer. RECENT FINDINGS: Despite a shift to a "less is more" paradigm for clinical thyroid care in older adults in recent years, current studies demonstrate that low-value care practices are still prevalent. Ineffective and potentially harmful services, such as routine treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism which can lead to overtreatment with thyroid hormone, inappropriate use of thyroid ultrasound, blanket fine needle aspiration biopsies of thyroid nodules, and more aggressive approaches to low-risk differentiated thyroid cancers, have been shown to contribute to adverse effects, particularly in comorbid older adults. SUMMARY: Low-value thyroid care is common in older adults and can trigger a cascade of overdiagnosis and overtreatment leading to patient harm and increased healthcare costs, highlighting the urgent need for de-implementation efforts.

Postoperative Surveillance in Older Adults With T1N0M0 Low-risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The frequency and cost of postoperative surveillance for older adults (>65 y) with T1N0M0 low-risk papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) have not been well studied. METHODS: Using the SEER-Medicare (2006-2013) database, frequency and cost of surveillance concordant with American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines (defined as an office visit, ≥1 thyroglobulin measurement, and ultrasound 6- to 24-month postoperatively) were analyzed for the overall cohort of single-surgery T1N0M0 low-risk PTC, stratified by lobectomy versus total thyroidectomy. RESULTS: Majority of 2097 patients in the study were white (86.7%) and female (77.5%). Median age and tumor size were 72 y (interquartile range 68-76) and 0.6 cm (interquartile range 0.3-1.1 cm), respectively; 72.9% of patients underwent total thyroidectomy. Approximately 77.5% of patients had a postoperative surveillance visit; however, only 15.9% of patients received ATA-concordant surveillance. Patients who underwent total thyroidectomy as compared with lobectomy were more likely to undergo surveillance testing, thyroglobulin (61.7% versus 24.8%) and ultrasound (37.5% versus 29.2%) (all P < 0.01), and receive ATA-concordant surveillance (18.5% versus 9.0%, P < 0.001). Total surveillance cost during the study period was $621,099. Diagnostic radioactive iodine, ablation, and advanced imaging (such as positron emission tomography scans) accounted for 55.5% of costs ($344,692), whereas ATA-concordant care accounted for 44.5% of costs. After multivariate adjustment, patients who underwent total thyroidectomy as compared with lobectomy were twice as likely to receive ATA-concordant surveillance (adjusted odds ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval: 1.5-2.8, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Majority of older adults with T1N0M0 low-risk PTC do not receive ATA-concordant surveillance; discordant care was costly. Total thyroidectomy was the strongest predictor of receiving ATA-concordant care.

A practical method of I-131 thyroid cancer therapy dose optimization using estimated effective renal clearance.

In thyroid cancer patients with renal impairment or other complicating factors, it is important to maximize I-131 therapy efficacy while minimizing bone marrow and lung damage. We developed a web-based calculator based on a modified Benua and Leeper method to calculate the maximum I-131 dose to reduce the risk of these toxicities, based on the effective renal clearance of I-123 as measured from two whole-body I-123 scans, performed at 0 and 24 h post-administration.

The Impact of Pathologically Positive Lymph Nodes in the Clinically Negative Neck: An Analysis of 39,301 Patients with Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

PURPOSE: Management of patients with low-risk papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) with clinically uninvolved lymph nodes (cN0 LNs), but who harbor metastatic central LNs (pN1a), remains unclear. The number of central LNs examined, radioactive iodine (RAI) utilization, and survival were compared across cN0 patients based on pN stage: pN0 (negative) versus pNx (unknown) versus pN1a (pathologically positive). METHODS: Adults with a PTC ≥1 cm who were cN0 preoperatively were compared based on surgical pathology using the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB; 2003-2011), after univariate and multivariate adjustment. Overall survival (OS) was examined using Kaplan-Meier curves, the log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards modeling. RESULTS: Overall, 39,301 patients were included; median tumor size was 1.9 cm. More LNs were examined for pN1a versus pN0 diagnosis (pN1a median = 5 LNs vs. pN0 median = 2 LNs; p < 0.0001), with a median of two central LNs found to be positive on surgical resection. Compared with pN0, pN1a patients were 78% more likely to receive RAI (odds ratio 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.65-1.91; p < 0.0001). After adjusting for receipt of RAI, no difference in OS was observed for pN1a versus pN0 or pNx patients (p = 0.72). Treatment with RAI was associated with improved OS (hazard ratio 0.78, 95% CI 0.62-0.98, p = 0.03), but the effect of RAI did not differ based on pN stage (interaction p = 0.67). CONCLUSION: More LNs were examined for positive versus negative pN diagnosis in patients with cN0 PTC. Unsuspected central neck nodal metastases in cN0 PTC patients are associated with increased RAI utilization, but no survival difference.

Knowledge of pathologically versus clinically negative lymph nodes is associated with reduced use of radioactive iodine post-thyroidectomy for low-risk papillary thyroid cancer.

Cervical lymph node metastases are common in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Clinically negative lymph nodes confer uncertainty about true lymph node status, potentially prompting empiric postoperative radioactive iodine (RAI) administration even in low-risk patients. We examined the association of clinically (cN0) versus pathologically negative (pN0) lymph nodes with utilization of RAI for low-risk PTC. Using the National Cancer Database 1998-2011, adults with PTC who underwent total thyroidectomy for Stage I/II tumors 1-4 cm were evaluated for receipt of RAI based on cN0 versus pN0 status. Cut-point analysis was conducted to determine the number of pN0 nodes associated with the greatest decrease in the odds of receipt of RAI. Survival models and multivariate analyses predicting RAI use were conducted separately for all patients and patients <45 years. 64,980 patients met study criteria; 39,778 (61.2 %) were cN0 versus 25,202 (38.8 %) pN0. Patients with pN0 nodes were more likely to have negative surgical margins and multifocal disease (all p < 0.001). The mean negative nodes reported in surgical pathology specimens was 4; ≥5 pathologically negative lymph nodes provided the best cut-point associated with reduced RAI administration (OR 0.91, CI 0.85-0.97). After multivariable adjustment, pN0 patients with ≥5 nodes examined were less likely to receive RAI compared to cN0 patients across all ages (OR 0.89, p < 0.001) and for patients aged <45 years (0R 0.86, p = 0.001). Patients with <5 pN0 nodes did not differ in RAI use compared to cN0 controls. Unadjusted survival was improved for pN0 versus cN0 patients across all ages (p < 0.001), but not for patients <45 years (p = 0.11); adjusted survival for all ages did not differ (p = 0.13). Pathological confirmation of negative lymph nodes in patients with PTC appears to influence the decision to administer postoperative RAI if ≥5 negative lymph nodes are removed. It is possible that fewer excised lymph nodes may be viewed by clinicians as incidentally resected and thus may suboptimally represent the true nodal status of the central neck. Further research is warranted to determine if there is an optimal number of lymph nodes that should be resected to standardize pathological diagnosis.

Adjuvant radioactive iodine therapy is associated with improved survival for patients with intermediate-risk papillary thyroid cancer.

CONTEXT: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy. The long-term prognosis is generally excellent. Due to a paucity of data, debate exists regarding the benefit of adjuvant radioactive iodine therapy (RAI) for intermediate-risk patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to examine the impact of RAI on overall survival in intermediate-risk PTC patients. DESIGN/SETTING: Adult patients with intermediate-risk PTC who underwent total thyroidectomy with/without RAI in the National Cancer Database, 1998-2006, participated in the study. PATIENTS: Intermediate-risk patients, as defined by American Thyroid Association risk and American Joint Commission on Cancer disease stage T3, N0, M0 or Mx, and T1-3, N1, M0, or Mx were included in the study. Patients with aggressive variants and multiple primaries were excluded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Overall survival (OS) for patients treated with and without RAI using univariate and multivariate regression analyses was measured. RESULTS: A total of 21 870 patients were included; 15 418 (70.5%) received RAI and 6452 (29.5%) did not. Mean follow-up was 6 years, with the longest follow-up of 14 years. In an unadjusted analysis, RAI was associated with improved OS in all patients (P < .001) as well as in a subgroup analysis among patients younger than 45 years (n = 12 612, P = .002) and 65 years old and older (median OS 140 vs 128 mo, n = 2122, P = .008). After a multivariate adjustment for demographic and clinical factors, RAI was associated with a 29% reduction in the risk of death, with a hazard risk 0.71 (95% confidence interval 0.62-0.82, P < .001). For age younger than 45 years, RAI was associated with a 36% reduction in risk of death, with a hazard risk 0.64 (95% confidence interval 0.45- 0.92, P = .016). CONCLUSION: This is the first nationally representative study of intermediate-risk PTC patients and RAI therapy demonstrating an association of RAI with improved overall survival. We recommend that this patient group should be considered for RAI therapy.

Appropriate dosing of adjuvant radioactive iodine for differentiated thyroid cancer.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The incidence of well differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) is increasing in the US population and is now a major public health concern. Although surgery is the mainstay of treatment, radioactive iodine (RAI) is routinely used for adjuvant therapy, remnant ablation, and for the treatment of metastatic disease. Despite excellent prognosis and stable mortality rates, the use of RAI is increasing in many low and intermediate risk WDTC patients without clear indication that it changes the outcome. As a result, the current treatment paradigm has shifted towards a risk-stratified approach. RECENT FINDINGS: Although there is widespread acceptance that RAI improves overall and recurrence-free survival in patients with metastatic disease, controversy remains regarding radioactive remnant ablation use in low and intermediate risk patients. Additional studies have shown that reduced doses of RAI can provide similar rates of remnant ablation and adjuvant therapy in low and intermediate risk patients without adversely affecting the recurrence rates and mortality. SUMMARY: Recent studies suggest potential new paradigms in radioactive remnant ablation dosing and indications for use. Risk stratification is important in determining the proper use and dosing of RAI.