An Evaluation of Health Literacy in Patients Undergoing Surgical Evaluation for Thyroid Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Health literacy (HL) is the ability to comprehend and apply health information to make informed health-care decisions. Poor HL results in the inability to provide informed consent, medication noncompliance, inconsistent follow-up, and delayed seeking of care. Data about HL in endocrine surgery is currently lacking. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the HL of patients with thyroid disease and identify risk factors for limited HL. METHODS: We evaluated a total of 172 patients with thyroid disease in a single endocrine surgery clinic. HL was determined by the Brief Health Literacy Screening Tool, a validated HL screening questionnaire in which patient scores correlate to limited, marginal, or adequate HL. Demographic data including age, sex, race, diagnosis, employment status, and median annual income were obtained. Analysis of variance, t-test, and Chi-square test were used to compare HL between and within each demographic domain. P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Of the 172 patients, 77% had adequate HL, 16% had marginal HL, and 7% had limited HL. Patients with higher education exhibited greater HL (P < 0.001). Ninety-three percent of patients with college/postgraduate degree had adequate HL, while of those with some college only 79% had adequate HL and of those with high school or less only 48.6% had adequate HL. There was minimal variation among age, sex, race, diagnosis, employment status, or income. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with thyroid diseases from the endocrine surgery clinic at our institution have adequate HL. Limited education is a risk factor for low HL.

Evaluating Patients' Health Literacy to Improve Thyroid Pathology Reports.

INTRODUCTION: As our growing population demonstrates a significant increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer, so does patient access to their medical records. Poor health literacy and understanding of disease severity, underscores the importance of effective and accessible patient-doctor communication. No previous studies on patient understanding of thyroid pathology reports exist; therefore, we sought to characterize health literacy in this population. METHODS: Using a modified Delphi technique, a 12-question multiple-choice survey regarding common pathology terms with possible definitions for each term was synthesized and administered to patients in a high-volume endocrine surgery clinic. Survey results, patient demographics, history of prior thyroid procedure (biopsy or surgery), and self-reported health literacy were collected. Data analysis included t tests, chi-squared, and multivariable linear regression using R. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 54 patients (response rate: 69.8%). On univariate analysis, White race, previous thyroid procedure, and at least a high school level education were all more likely to score higher on the survey than their counterparts (P < 0.05). On multivariable logistic regression for predicting a higher survey score, only race (est: 2.48 [95% confidence interval: 1.01-3.96]) and higher educational attainment (est: 3.98 [95% confidence interval: 2.32-5.64]) remained predictive (P < 0.05). The remaining demographic groups (age, health literacy confidence, and previous thyroid procedure) did not show a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, terms on a thyroid pathology report are poorly understood by patients. This is exacerbated by non-White race and low educational attainment. There is a need for patient-facing pathology education.

Young and resilient: Unraveling papillary thyroid cancer outcomes in males under 40.

BACKGROUND: While males present with more adverse clinicopathologic features in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), younger age has previously been shown to be a favorable prognostic factor. We examined the combined effect of male sex and young age on PTC outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of thyroid cancer surgery patients (2000-2020) at a single quaternary care institution. We included papillary thyroid carcinoma cases and excluded those with prior cancer-related thyroid surgery. We examined demographics, cancer stage, surgical outcomes, and complications by age and sex, analyzing groups below and above the age of 40 years. RESULTS: A total of 680 patients with PTC were included. Females constituted 68% (age ≥40 years: 44% and <40 years: 24%) and males 32% (≥40 years: 24% and <40 years: 8%). A significant difference (p < 0.001) of N1 disease distribution was found between the groups. N1a metastasis was greater in patients younger than 40 regardless of sex ((M < 40 (15%), F < 40 (15%), M ≥ 40 (12%), and F ≥ 40 (9%)). While, M < 40 had greater N1b metastasis (36%) than all other groups (M ≥ 40 (28%), F < 40 (22%), and F ≥ 40 (10%)). There was no significant difference in the distribution of T stages between groups. Groups showed no differences in 30-day outcomes, recurrence at 1 year, reoperation, mortality, nerve injury, or hypocalcemia. CONCLUSIONS: Young males with PTC face increased occurrence of nodal metastasis yet experience similar recurrence rates as their female and older counterparts. Subgroup analysis underscores the predictive role of sex and age in advanced PTC cases.

World premiere: transoral robot-assisted excision for nasopharyngeal ectopic pituitary adenoma.

BACKGROUND: Pituitary adenoma (PA), though rare, has seen increased incidence with widespread MRI use, enabling incidental diagnosis. Prevalence is approximately 1 case per 1000 in the general population. PAs are benign neoplasms, constituting 10 to 20% of intracranial tumours. Ectopic pituitary adenoma developed outside the sella turcica is exceptional. It may be hormonally active or not. These are called nonfunctional pituitary adenomas. METHODS: Here is reported a case of a man in his eighties with a nasopharyngeal ectopic pituitary adenoma treated by robot-assisted excision using a combined route. CARE guidelines have been respected. RESULTS: A man in his eighties, asymptomatic, underwent an MRI for dizziness, revealing a nasopharyngeal mass. Despite being asymptomatic, nasofibroscopy revealed a reddish oval-shaped tissue mass attached to the roof of the nasopharynx. Biopsy identified a neuroendocrine tumor G1/G2. Imaging showed no local invasion or distant metastases. A multidisciplinary team decided on a robot-assisted surgical excision through the mouth, coupled with nasal endoscopy. The procedure achieved complete excision with clear margins and no adverse event has occurred. CONCLUSIONS: This unique case involved the successful transoral robot-assisted excision of a nasopharyngeal ectopic pituitary adenoma, highlighting an innovative surgical approach.

Impact of Intermittent Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) on the Learning Curve for Total Thyroidectomy by Residents in General Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RNL) identification constitutes the standard in thyroidectomy. Intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) has been introduced as a complementary tool for RLN functionality evaluation. The aim of this study is to establish how routine use of IONM can affect the learning curve (LC) in thyroidectomy. METHODS: Patients undergoing total thyroidectomy performed by surgery residents in their learning curve course in 2 academic hospitals, were divided into 2 groups: Group A, including 150 thyroidectomies performed without IONM by 3 different residents, and Group B, including 150 procedures with routine use of intermittent IONM, by other 3 different residents. LC was measured by comparing operative time (OT), its stabilization during the development of the LC, perioperative complication rate. RESULTS: As previously demonstrated, the LC was achieved after 30 procedures, in both groups, with no differences due to the use of IONM. Similarly, there were no significant differences among the 2 groups, and between subgroups independently matched, for both OT and complications, even when comparing RLN palsy. Direct nerve visualization and IONM assessment rates were comparable in all groups, and no bilateral RLN palsy (transient or permanent) were reported. No case of interrupted procedure to unilateral lobectomy, due to evidence of RLN injury, was reported. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates that the use of IONM thyroid surgery, despite requiring a specific training with experienced surgeons, does not particularly affect the learning curve of residents approaching this kind of surgery, and for this reason its routine use should be encouraged even for trainees.

Management of Abdominal Paraganglioma: A Single Center's Experience.

Background and Objectives: Paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare neuroendocrine extra-adrenal tumors that could be secreting mass. The symptoms are the typical triad of paroxysmal headache, hypertension and sweating, but could also be accompanied by symptoms involving multiple organs. Surgery is the gold standard treatment for both PGLs and pheochromocytomas (PHEOs). Material and Methods: We used a computerized endocrine surgery registry to record the demographic and clinical data of 153 patients who underwent surgery for PPGL between 2010 and 2023 at our hospital. Results: Thirteen patients (8.43%) with paragangliomas underwent surgery at our institute. Five patients presented symptomatic syndrome. Preoperative investigations included enhanced abdominal CT (nine patients) and enhanced MRI (seven patients). In cases of suspicious mass, we performed 131I-MIBG scans (two patients) or 68GA-DOTATOC PET-CT scans (11 patients). Laparoscopic approach was used in four cases (30.7%) and abdominal laparotomy in the other nine (69.3%). Biochemical tests were performed on all patients. Conclusions: In this retrospective study, we discuss the multidisciplinary management in our institute of this rare disease, from its challenging diagnosis to the surgical strategy for PGLs. Laparoscopic surgery is the gold standard, but a tailored approach should be adopted for each patient.

[Complications and technical aspects of safe tissue dissection in endoscopic hemithyroidectomy]. / Oslozhneniya i tekhnicheskie aspekty bezopasnoi dissektsii tkanei pri provedenii endoskopicheskoi gemitireoidektomii.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the complications following endoscopic hemithyroidectomy and to develop the principles of tissue dissection for safe surgical intervention. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The results of surgical treatment of 136 patients were studied. The main group consisted of 44 patients who underwent endoscopic hemithyroidectomy through a «gasless¼ axillary approach (EH group). The first control group consisted of 45 patients who underwent minimally invasive video-assisted hemithyroidectomy (MIVAH group). The second control group consisted of 47 patients who underwent open hemithyroidectomy (OH group). RESULTS. O: Verall complication rate was significantly higher in the EH group (20.5% vs. 6.4% in the OH group and 4.4% in the MIVAH group; p<0.05). In the EH group, Clavien-Dindo grade I complications occurred in 11.4% of cases. There were no similar complications in the control groups (p<0.05). Clavien-Dindo grade II complications occurred in 9.1% of patients in the EH group, 4.3% in the OH group and no similar events were identified in the MIVAH group (p>0.05). Clavien-Dindo grade III complications occurred in 1 (2.1%) case in the OH group and 2 (4.4%) cases in the MIVAH group. There were no Clavien-Dindo grade III complications in the EH group. Thus, minor complications prevailed in the EH group. Their incidence decreased along with accumulation of experience. Moreover, endoscopic procedure is safer regarding the risk of severe complications. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic hemithyroidectomy is safe, and the proposed principles of tissue dissection can further increase surgical safety.

Management of Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Patterns of Recurrence and Outcomes of Reoperative Surgery.

BACKGROUND: There remains uncertainty regarding the optimal extent of initial surgery and management of recurrent disease in medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). We aim to describe the patterns of disease recurrence and outcomes of the reoperative surgery in a cohort of consecutively treated patients at a specialized tertiary referral center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 235 surgically treated patients with MTC at a tertiary referral center was performed using prospectively collected data. RESULTS: In the study period 1986-2022, 235 patients underwent surgery for MTC. Of these, 45 (19%) patients had reoperative surgery for cervical nodal recurrence at a median (range) 2.1 (0.3-16) years following the index procedure. After a median follow-up of 4 years, 38 (84%) patients remain free of structural cervical recurrence, although 15 (33%) underwent 2 or more reoperative procedures. No long-term complications occurred after reoperative surgery. Local cervical recurrence was independently predicted by pathologically involved nodal status (OR 5.10, P = .01) and failure to achieve biochemical cure (OR 5.0, P = .009). Local recurrence did not adversely affect overall survival and was not associated with distant recurrence (HR 0.93, P = .83). Overall survival was independently predicted by high pathological grade (HR 10.0, P = .002) and the presence of metastatic disease at presentation (HR 8.27, P = 0018). CONCLUSION: Loco-regional recurrence in MTC does not impact overall survival, or the development of metastatic disease, demonstrating the safety of the staged approach to the clinically node-negative lateral neck. When recurrent disease is technically resectable, reoperative surgery can be undertaken with minimal morbidity in a specialized center and facilitates structural disease control.

Getting Your Foot in the Door: Access to Surgical Care for Thyroid Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Access to specialty care can be challenging for patients, often involving multiple evaluations, laboratory tests, and referrals. To better understand the different pathways to specialty care, we examined the outcomes of patients evaluated for surgical thyroid disease at a single tertiary referral clinic. METHODS: We reviewed 691 patients seen in the endocrine surgery clinic for thyroid disease (2018-2021). Patient demographics, referral source, referral reason, and reason for not receiving an operation were collected. The number of days from referral to initial clinic visit and from initial clinic visit to an operation were also collected. The Chi-square test, the independent t-test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, the Dunn-Bonferroni post hoc test, and multiple logistic regression tests were performed using SPSS. RESULTS: The top reasons for referral were thyroid nodules (54.4%), hyperthyroidism (26.5%), and multinodular goiter (10.3%). Specialty clinic referrals came from endocrinologists (56.0%), self-referrals (15.5%), and primary care physicians (PCP; 14.4%). Self-referred patients had a shorter waiting time for an appointment than those referred by endocrinologists and PCPs. [median (IQR) (days) 12 (6-17) versus 16 (9-24) versus 16 (9-25), P < 0.001]. Overall, 450 (72.7%) patients underwent thyroid surgery. For those who underwent thyroidectomy, self-referred patients had a shorter time between initial clinic visit and the operation compared to those referred by endocrinologists and PCPs [median (IQR) (days) 2 (1-19) versus 19 (8-33) versus 16 (1-48), P < 0.001]. Patients referred for hyperthyroidism (odds ratio [OR] = 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-10.5, P = 0.012 were more likely to undergo an operation than those referred for other reasons. CONCLUSIONS: Access to specialty care for thyroid disease is facilitated and optimized when self-referrals are permitted. Reducing or eliminating the requirement for a provider referral may improve patients' access.

Extreme Elevation of Baseline Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone Measurements: Should Usual Protocols Apply?

INTRODUCTION: Intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) monitoring is routinely used to facilitate minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. Many IOPTH protocols exist for predicting biochemical cure. Some patients are found to have extremely high baseline IOPTH levels (defined in this study as >500 pg/mL), which may affect the likelihood of satisfying certain final IOPTH criteria. We aimed to discover whether clinically significant differences exist in patients with extremely high baseline IOPTH and which IOPTH protocols are most appropriately applied to these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective review of 237 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy with IOPTH monitoring for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) from 2016 to 2020. Baseline IOPTH levels, drawn prior to manipulation of parathyroid glands, were grouped into categories labeled "elevated" (>65-500 pg/mL) and "extremely elevated" (>500 pg/mL). Final IOPTH levels were analyzed to determine whether there was a >50% decrease from baseline and whether a normal IOPTH value was achieved. 6-wk postoperative calcium levels were also examined. RESULTS: Of the patients in this cohort, 76% were in the elevated group and 24% in the extremely elevated group. Male sex and higher preoperative PTH levels were correlated with higher baseline IOPTH levels. Patients with extremely elevated baseline IOPTH were less likely to have IOPTH fall into normal range at the conclusion of the case (P = 0.019), and final IOPTH levels were higher (P < 0.001), but the IOPTH was equally likely to decrease >50% from baseline. There was no difference in the mean postoperative calcium levels between the two groups at 6-wk or at longer term follow-up (mean 525 d). CONCLUSIONS: Detection of baseline IOPTH levels >500 pg/mL during parathyroidectomy performed for pHPT is not uncommon. IOPTH in patients with extremely elevated baseline levels were less likely to fall into normal range, but follow-up calcium levels were equal, suggesting that applying more stringent IOPTH criteria for predicting biochemical cure may not be appropriate for this population.

Social Determinants of Health and Quality of Life in Endocrine Surgery Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Quality of life (QoL) of endocrine surgery patients is an important patient outcome but the role of social determinants of health (SDH) on preoperative QoL is understudied. METHODS: This study used preoperative data of 233 endocrine surgery patients participating in a longitudinal QoL study to examine the influence of SDH (patient-level and environmental) on preoperative QoL. Patient-level SDH was assessed with structured survey questions and environmental SDH with the Social Vulnerability Index. Multiple domains of QoL were assessed with the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29 (PROMIS-29). RESULTS: The average age of the sample was 52.9 y and 76.8% were female, 10% were Hispanic, 55.8% were White, 32.6% were Black, 6.9% were Other, and 4.7% were Asian. Patients with patient-level SDH were more likely to have worse preoperative QoL in multiple PROMIS domains. Patients who lived in the most socially vulnerable areas had the same or better QoL scores in the PROMIS-29 domains than those living in less vulnerable areas. Minority race patients were more likely to have patient-level SDH and to live in the most vulnerable areas. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to our knowledge to examine the role of patient-level and environmental SDH on preoperative QoL among endocrine surgery patients. The results identified specific patient-level factors that could be used as the basis for interventions aimed to improve patients' QoL. Future studies that evaluate the role of preoperative SDH on long-term QoL and clinical outcomes would further enhance our understanding of the impact of SDH on patient wellbeing.

Analysis of Preoperative Predictors of Single and Multigland Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative differentiation of single-gland (SG) versus multigland (MG) primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) can assist with surgical planning, treatment prognostication, and patient counseling. The aim of this study was to identify preoperative predictors of SG-PHPT. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 408 patients with PHPT who underwent parathyroidectomy at a tertiary referral center. Comprehensive preoperative parameters, including demographic, laboratory, clinical, and imaging results were analyzed. Univariate analysis and binary logistic regression identified preoperative predictors of SG-PHPT. Receiver operator curves were used to analyze the predictive values of existing and novel preoperative predictive models. RESULTS: Elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) (99.1 pg/mL in SG versus 93.0 pg/mL in MG), elevated calcium (10.8 mg/dL in SG versus 10.6 mg/dL in MG), lower phosphate levels (2.80 mg/dL in SG versus 2.95 mg/dL in MG), and positive imaging (ultrasound 75.6% in SG versus 56.5% in MG; sestamibi 70.8% in SG versus 45.5% in MG) were significantly associated with SG-PHPT. The Washington University Score (a predictive scoring system made from calcium, PTH, phosphate, ultrasound, and sestamibi) and the Washington University Index ([calcium × PTH]/phosphate) were comparable to previous scoring systems used to predict SG versus MG-PHPT. CONCLUSIONS: The association of lower phosphate with SG-PHPT is a novel finding. Previously identified predictors of SG-PHPT, including elevated PTH and positive imaging were confirmed. The Washington University Score and Index are comparable to previously described models and can be used to help surgeons predict if a patient may have SG versus MG-PHPT.

Time to Symptom Resolution After Total Thyroidectomy for Graves' Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Total thyroidectomy (TT) has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment for Graves' disease. However, the time course for improvement of symptoms has not been defined. METHODS: With an institutional review board approval, we prospectively gathered survey data of all patients (n = 79) undergoing TT for Graves' disease at a single institution from 2019 to 2021. After informed consent was obtained, patients completed surveys preoperatively and at 2 wk followed by monthly postoperative visits/phone calls. Patient demographics and survey results were collected and analyzed. Symptom recovery time was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients completed the survey on postoperative follow-up (response rate 63%). Average age was 38 y (range 12-80 y) and 88% of patients were female. The most common preoperative symptoms were fatigue (90%) and heat/cold intolerance (88%). Tremor (median time to resolution: 1 wk; interquartile range [IQR] 1-3), diarrhea (median 1 wk [IQR 1-3]), and palpitations (median 1 wk [IQR 1-3]) resolved the most rapidly followed by eye symptoms (median 3 wk [IQR 1-6]), heat/cold intolerance (median 3 wk [IQR 3-30]), memory deficits (median 3 wk [IQR 1-undefined]), and fatigue (median: 3 wk [IQR 1-14]). There were no significant differences in time to resolution of symptoms by gender or age (less than versus 40 y and older). Those with uncontrolled Graves' had more severe symptoms but no difference in time to resolution from the euthyroid Graves' patients. CONCLUSIONS: Many Graves' disease symptoms improve rapidly following TT, with a median time to improvement of less than 1 mo.

Parathyroidectomy trends and surgical trainee parathyroidectomy experience based on the Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program (CESQIP) database.

BACKGROUND: The parathyroidectomy approach has shifted over the last few decades from routine bilateral to more commonly focused exploration. The purpose of this study is to assess the operative experience in parathyroidectomy for surgical trainees as well as overall parathyroidectomy trends. METHODS: Data from the Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program (CESQIP) were analyzed between 2014 and 2019. RESULTS: The overall distribution of focused versus bilateral parathyroidectomy remained stable (2014: 54 % focused and 46 % bilateral approach; 2019: 55 % focused and 45 % bilateral). Ninety three percent of procedures involved a trainee (fellow or resident) in 2014, this dropped to 74 % in 2019 (P < 0.005). Fellow involvement decreased significantly from 31 % to 17 % (P < 0.05) over the six-year period. CONCLUSIONS: Resident exposure to parathyroidectomies mirrored that of practicing endocrine surgeons. This works highlights the opportunities to capture more information regarding the surgical trainee experience in endocrine surgeries.

New Robotic Platforms in General Surgery: What's the Current Clinical Scenario?

Background and Objectives: Robotic surgery has been widely adopted in general surgery worldwide but access to this technology is still limited to a few hospitals. With the recent introduction of new robotic platforms, several studies reported the feasibility of different surgical procedures. The aim of this systematic review is to highlight the current clinical practice with the new robotic platforms in general surgery. Materials and Methods: A grey literature search was performed on the Internet to identify the available robotic systems. A PRISMA compliant systematic review was conducted for all English articles up to 10 February 2023 searching the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. Clinical outcomes, training process, operating surgeon background, cost-analysis, and specific registries were evaluated. Results: A total of 103 studies were included for qualitative synthesis after the full-text screening. Of the fifteen robotic platforms identified, only seven were adopted in a clinical environment. Out of 4053 patients, 2819 were operated on with a new robotic device. Hepatopancreatobiliary surgery specialty performed the majority of procedures, and the most performed procedure was cholecystectomy. Globally, 109 emergency surgeries were reported. Concerning the training process, only 45 papers reported the background of the operating surgeon, and only 28 papers described the training process on the surgical platform. Only one cost-analysis compared a new robot to the existing reference. Two manufacturers promoted a specific registry to collect clinical outcomes. Conclusions: This systematic review highlights the feasibility of most surgical procedures in general surgery using the new robotic platforms. Adoption of these new devices in general surgery is constantly growing with the extension of regulatory approvals. Standardization of the training process and the assessment of skills' transferability is still lacking. Further studies are required to better understand the real clinical and economical benefit.

DOES THE PRESENCE OF CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC THYROIDITIS AFFECT DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY IN BETHESDA CATEGORY III NODULES?

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the presence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and malignancy rates with prognostic factors in thyroid nodules diagnosed as Bethesda category III, and to examine the effect of HT on diagnostic value of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Demographic information, preoperative examination, and final pathological evaluation of patients with Bethesda category III (AUS-FLUS) nodules who had been operated on in our department over the last 6 years were analyzed. Statistical analyses were performed using the Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test and χ2-test and logistic regression analysis using SPSS version 22 software. The malignancy rate on final pathology of 159 patients was 24.5%. Malignancy rates were found to be higher in patients with HT coexistence (30.7% vs. 21.5%, p=0.20). Poor prognostic factors such as multifocality, number of metastatic lymph nodes (p=0.04), and extrathyroidal extension were more common in patients with cancer in the pathology specimen who were in the non-HT group. It cannot be said that HT decreases diagnostic value of FNAB in lesions diagnosed with AUS-FLUS. The lower incidence of poor prognostic factors in the HT group may be attributed to cytotoxic cell dominance in tumor immunity.

Professional Internet Presence Amongst Endocrine Surgeons in the United States.

BACKGROUND: There is a wide range of social media adoption within medical specialties. The use of social media by endocrine surgeons has not been investigated. We undertook this study to describe the use of social media and other platforms by endocrine surgeons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons' publicly available website was used to identify practicing endocrine surgeons in the United States. Surgeon demographics and practice characteristics were collected via internet query. Five social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube) were investigated for professional accounts. The presence of a non-institutional professional website, an active Healthgrades account, and presence in non-institutional YouTube videos were also queried. One point was assigned for presence on each of the eight platforms. A professional internet presence (PIP) score was calculated. Descriptive statistics were performed on PIP scores to evaluate the relationship between surgeon and practice characteristics and PIP score. RESULTS: A total of 417 endocrine surgeons were studied. LinkedIn (222, 53.2%) and Twitter (110, 26.4%) were the most commonly used platforms. PIP scores were categorized into zero, one, two, and three or more accounts; 26.9% of surgeons had no professional internet presence. Academic surgeons had a significantly different PIP score than community-based surgeons (P < 0.01). There was no significant association between PIP score and surgeon sex, geographic regions, rural versus urban settings, and years of experience. CONCLUSIONS: Self-identified US endocrine surgeons have low professional internet presence. Endocrine surgeons may consider bolstering their professional internet presence to disseminate medical information.

Pilot Cross-Sectional Quality of Life Study of a Diverse Endocrine Surgery Patient Population.

INTRODUCTION: Quality of life (QOL) studies of endocrine surgery patients have lacked diverse patient representation, long-term follow-up, or the use of validated questionnaires. This cross-sectional pilot study explored the need for prospective QOL studies in diverse endocrine surgery patients who were ≥6 mo postoperative. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2019, we mailed anonymous questionnaires to 671 adult patients cared for by an endocrine surgery division between 2018 and 2019. Patients were ≥6 mo postoperative and had undergone thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, or adrenalectomy. Patients mailed back responses to two validated questionnaires, the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29 (PROMIS-29), and the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10). We compared responses across race. RESULTS: Of 135 respondents (20.1% response rate), 27.4% were 60-69 y and 69.6% were female. Race and ethnicity frequencies include 60.0% White patients, 27.4% Black patients, 4.4% Asian patients, and 5.2% Hispanic/LatinX patients. For surgery, 57.8% underwent thyroidectomy, 28.2% parathyroidectomy, 9.6% both, 4.4% adrenalectomy, and 32.6% surgery for cancer. Regarding PROMIS-29 results for patients who underwent thyroidectomy, significant differences were observed in the domains of physical function, depression, sleep disturbances, social roles, and global pain across race (P < 0.05). However, few differences were seen after completion of post hoc pairwise comparisons. We did not observe differences in PROMIS scores across race among patients who underwent parathyroidectomy and adrenalectomy or in VHI-10 for all surgical groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest long-term QOL differences across race and surgery type and support the need for prospective studies among diverse endocrine surgery patients.

Endocrine Surgery Patients' and Providers' Perceptions of Telemedicine in the COVID Era.

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine has become a key modality for health care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic, including for endocrine surgery. Little data exists on patients' and referring endocrinologists' perspectives of its use. The study aimed to assess and compare endocrine surgery patients' attitudes about telemedicine to that of referring endocrinologists. METHOD: Patients from a regional endocrine surgery practice and referring endocrinologists were sent surveys about their perspectives on telemedicine use. RESULTS: Fifty two patients responded: average age was 58.3 years; 78% were female; 33% were Black. Sixteen referring endocrinologists responded: average age was 52.4 years; 62.5% were female. Nearly all patients (92%) and providers (100%) would try telemedicine or use it again. Providers were more likely than patients to use telemedicine because of COVID-19 (100% versus 70.6%, P = 0.03). Patients were more concerned about the lack of personal connection with telemedicine than providers (60.8% versus 25.0%, P = 0.02). Endocrinologists were more interested in using telemedicine to review abnormal results (81.3% versus 35.3%, P <0.01), and more patients were specifically disinterested in reviewing abnormal results via telemedicine (54.9% versus 6.3%, P = 0.04). Patients were more interested in its use for postoperative visits (47.1% versus 0%, P <0.01). More endocrinologists were specifically disinclined to conduct new consultations with telemedicine (87.5% versus 58.8%, P <0.01). CONCLUSION: Telemedicine is a mutually acceptable method for patients and their referring providers for endocrine surgery delivery, although in-person visits continue to have their place. Telemedicine use may continue to expand after the pandemic as an important point of access for endocrine surgery.

Gender Disparities in Academic Productivity and Promotion Among Endocrine Surgery Faculty.

INTRODUCTION: Academic rank and metrics such as total publications (pubs) and H-index are indicators to measure academic achievement. This study aims to determine whether there are gender differences in academic productivity or faculty appointments among endocrine surgeons in the United States. METHODS: A database was generated from the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (AAES) website. Community or academic practice was designated by institution affiliation and faculty appointment. Academic metrics, including pubs, H-index, and weighted-RCR (relative citation ratio), were obtained from public databases. RESULTS: A total of 258 AAES members were affiliated with an academic institution. The majority were men (58%). Overall, men in endocrine surgery had higher academic metrics: pubs (56.0 [26-134], 23.0 [11-56], P < 0.0001), H-index (19.0 [11-35], 9.0 [5-21], P < 0.0001), weighted-RCR (63.5 [22-193], 24.1 [8-74], P < 0.005) and rank (associate professor or professor, P < 0.0001). Subgroup analysis accounting for time in practice found no difference in total publications, weighted RCR, or faculty appointments between genders in practice for 0-5 y. However, among surgeons in practice for 6-10 y, men had higher academic metrics (pubs: 31.0 [16-79], 18.5 [9-33]; RCR: 46.0 [14-102], 13.3 [9-34]) and faculty appointments (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There are gender disparities in academic productivity and faculty appointment among US endocrine surgeons. While junior faculty show no gender differences in most indicators of academic productivity or rank, men with 6-10 y in practice have higher average academic metrics and rank. Whether the absence of gender disparities among junior faculty is a sustainable reflection of recent efforts to encourage equal mentorship and professional opportunities or whether disparities will manifest as faculty progress remains to be determined.